Is this normal flowering for a Lupin?

Last post 28-12-2008 8:20 PM by Digger. 5 replies.

• 28/12/2008 06:51 PM
  Marty Location: West Midlands Joined on: 02 Apr 2008 Posts: 21	Reply | Contact  Hi all,  I found this lupin in a field out of its pot after a boot fair and planted it in my garden. People have said to me that it's unusual because of how it has flowered. It's still flowering now in late December, looking the same as in the photos below. Does this look strange or unusual or is it common flowering behaviour?

• 28/12/2008 07:07 PM

  In reply to

  Digger Location: Northern UK Joined on: 18 Jul 2005 Posts: 5,230

  Reply | Contact It's now not as unusual as it should be to see plants flower out of season, I'm not sure why your lupin has re grown above the seed pods with foliage as well as flowers, but they are only a short lived perennial, so you could save some of the seeds and sow them for future flowers, I'll stick my neck out and dare to say it's a Russel hybrid, possibly "my castle", maybe ? digger Sage of the fells

• 28/12/2008 07:13 PM	In reply to
  sue1002 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk Joined on: 06 Sep 2005 Posts: 9,470	Reply | Contact Things flowering out of season doesn't surprise me at all but what does amaze me about your pics Marty is that it looks like you have leaf growth on top of the flower spike with another flower spike on top - I've not seen that before. sue1002

• 28/12/2008 07:33 PM	In reply to
  Marty Location: West Midlands Joined on: 02 Apr 2008 Posts: 21	Reply | Contact  Thanks digger and Sue.  I did think the leaf growth above the seed pods was the more unusual element than the flowering out of season. I'll do as you say and get some seeds for next year. It might be an unusual new variant! I wasn't sure if frosts or snow might have killed it off, I've already had a bit of both and temperatures here down to about -5C.

• 28/12/2008 08:07 PM

  In reply to

  Phot's-Moll Location: The sunny South coast. Joined on: 06 Jan 2007 Posts: 4,550

  Reply | Contact Thanks for sharing the photo.  I agree - that is unusual. I've seen other plants produce flowers above flowers (it's sometimes called 'hen and chickens' in daisies and primulas) I've never seen it in a lupin - or heard of it. I'm not sure if it will do it again, or if plants grown from it's seeds would do it, but I'd be tempted to plant some and see. Even if they're normal, they are likely to be nice plants.   Whether you think you can do a thing, or think you cannot, you are right.

• 28/12/2008 08:20 PM	In reply to
  Digger Location: Northern UK Joined on: 18 Jul 2005 Posts: 5,230	Reply | Contact Yes it's something i've not seen but I cut my lupins back straight away to get a further flowering,this probably hastens their demise in the long term but what the hey! digger Sage of the fells