Rusty Lupine
Lupinus pusillus
Last reviewed: August 2026
Rusty 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) 426-4435and your veterinarian's emergency line.
Pollinator Patch flags toxic plants so you can choose a pet-safe native alternative for your yard.
Light
full sun
Water
low
Size
2"–12" H × 2"–8" W
Bloom
Apr, May, Jun
Native to
AZ, CA, CO, ID and 10 more states
Pollinators
bees, butterflies
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
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Rusty lupine is a compact annual wildflower that stays very low to the ground, reaching only 2-12 inches tall. It produces small spikes of lupine flowers from April through June and thrives in sunny, dry conditions with minimal water needs.
In an HOA neighborhood
Rusty 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.
- Very small size makes it appear weedy in formal landscapes
- Annual nature means it disappears entirely each year
- Wild appearance doesn't fit conventional landscaping expectations
Wildlife value
This native lupine supports bees and butterflies during its spring blooming period. As a member of the legume family, it also helps fix nitrogen in the soil.
Common questions
- How much sun does Rusty Lupine need?
- Rusty Lupine grows best in full sun conditions.
- When does Rusty Lupine bloom?
- Rusty Lupine blooms in April, May, and June.
- Where is Rusty Lupine native?
- Rusty Lupine (Lupinus pusillus) is native to AZ, CA, CO, ID and 10 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
- Is Rusty Lupine toxic to dogs?
- Yes. Rusty Lupine is listed as toxic to dogs by the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center (NPIN) (aspca.org). If your pet has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
- Is Rusty Lupine toxic to cats?
- Yes. Rusty Lupine is listed as toxic to cats by the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center (NPIN) (aspca.org). If your cat has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
- What pollinators does Rusty Lupine attract?
- Rusty Lupine draws bees and butterflies.
- Is Rusty Lupine HOA-friendly?
- Rusty 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 Rusty Lupine and shows pet-safe natives for your ecoregion instead.
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