Silvery lupine
Lupinus argenteus
Last reviewed: August 2026
Silvery 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
12"–30" H × 12"–24" W
Bloom
Jun, Jul, Aug
Native to
AZ, CA, CO, ID and 12 more states
Pollinators
bees
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An upright perennial legume with silvery, palmate leaves and tall spikes of blue-purple pea flowers in summer. It grows in mountain meadows and can flop somewhat by season's end.
Wildlife value
Host plant for silvery blue, boisduval's blue.
Lupines are a key larval host genus for the silvery blue and boisduval's blue butterflies, and the flowers are heavily used by bumble bees.
Common questions
- How much sun does Silvery lupine need?
- Silvery lupine grows best in full sun conditions.
- When does Silvery lupine bloom?
- Silvery lupine blooms in June, July, and August.
- Where is Silvery lupine native?
- Silvery lupine (Lupinus argenteus) is native to AZ, CA, CO, ID and 12 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
- Is Silvery lupine toxic to dogs?
- Yes. Silvery 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 Silvery lupine toxic to cats?
- Yes. Silvery 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 Silvery lupine host?
- Silvery lupine is a larval host plant for silvery blue and boisduval's blue.
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 Silvery lupine and shows pet-safe natives for your ecoregion instead.
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