Seashore Lupine
Lupinus littoralis
Last reviewed: August 2026
Seashore 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
4"–24" H × 8"–16" W
Bloom
May, Jun, Jul
Native to
CA, OR, WA
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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Seashore lupine is a compact native perennial with silvery-green foliage and spikes of blue to purple flowers from May through July. This drought-tolerant plant forms neat clumps that work well in sunny, well-drained locations.
In an HOA neighborhood
Seashore Lupine is an HOA-friendly choice. Maintenance level: low. Tidiness: 4 out of 5.
Works well in: front yard, foundation, street edge, mid zone.
Wildlife value
Host plant for Euxoa wilsoni.
The flowers attract native bees and butterflies during the summer blooming period. As a nitrogen-fixing legume, it also improves soil health for surrounding plants.
Common questions
- How much sun does Seashore Lupine need?
- Seashore Lupine grows best in full sun conditions.
- When does Seashore Lupine bloom?
- Seashore Lupine blooms in May, June, and July.
- Where is Seashore Lupine native?
- Seashore Lupine (Lupinus littoralis) is native to CA, OR, WA, per vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists.
- Is Seashore Lupine toxic to dogs?
- Yes. Seashore 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 Seashore Lupine toxic to cats?
- Yes. Seashore 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 butterflies or moths does Seashore Lupine host?
- Seashore Lupine is a larval host plant for Euxoa wilsoni.
- Is Seashore Lupine HOA-friendly?
- Seashore Lupine is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.
Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. 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 Seashore Lupine and shows pet-safe natives for your ecoregion instead.
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