Coulter's Lupine
Lupinus sparsiflorus
Last reviewed: September 2026
Coulter's Lupine is toxic to dogs and cats.
Listed as toxic by the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center (NPIN) (opens in new tab) (last reviewed 2026-08-20). If your pet has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 and your veterinarian's emergency line.
Pollinator Patch flags toxic plants so you can choose a pet-safe native alternative for your yard.
Native swaps for a yard with pets
Coulter's Lupine is listed as toxic to dogs by the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center (NPIN). These natives fill a similar role in a planting and are not on the ASPCA toxic plant list for dogs or cats. Each plant's page carries its dated record.
Light
full sun
Water
low
Size
6"–24" H × 6"–18" W
Bloom
Mar, Apr, May, Jun
Native to
AZ, CA, NV, UT
Pollinators
bees, butterflies
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
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Coulter's lupine is a compact annual wildflower that produces spikes of blue to purple pea-like flowers from March through June. This wildflower grows 6-24 inches tall with palmate leaves and thrives in full sun with minimal water once established.
In an HOA neighborhood
Coulter's Lupine takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Works well in: backyard only.
- Annual lifecycle creates gaps in plantings
- Can appear weedy or unkempt between seasons
- Wildflower appearance may seem too informal for front yards
Wildlife value
The flowers attract native bees and butterflies during the spring blooming period. As a member of the legume family, it also helps fix nitrogen in the soil.
Common questions
- How much sun does Coulter's Lupine need?
- Coulter's Lupine grows best in full sun conditions.
- When does Coulter's Lupine bloom?
- Coulter's Lupine blooms in March, April, May, and June.
- Where is Coulter's Lupine native?
- Coulter's Lupine (Lupinus sparsiflorus) is native to AZ, CA, NV, UT, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
- Is Coulter's Lupine toxic to dogs?
- Yes. Coulter's Lupine is listed as toxic to dogs by the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center (NPIN). If your pet has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
- Is Coulter's Lupine toxic to cats?
- Yes. Coulter's Lupine is listed as toxic to cats by the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center (NPIN). If your cat has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
- What pollinators does Coulter's Lupine attract?
- Coulter's Lupine draws bees and butterflies.
- Is Coulter's Lupine HOA-friendly?
- Coulter's Lupine takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Pollinator Patch flags toxic plants like Coulter's Lupine and shows pet-safe natives for your ecoregion instead.