Lupinus polyphyllus Masterpiece

The 'West Country Masterpiece' Lupin is a sumptuous new variety, with violet-purple flowers speckled with orange, and gathered in generous spikes that appear from the beginning of summer. Highly fragrant, this next-generation lupin produces magnificent, remarkably colored spikes; it is undoubtedly a masterpiece for perennial beds. It brings a lot of verticality and a very personal touch to landscape compositions, especially when accompanied by blue or pink blooms. This very hardy perennial forms superb bushy clumps with deeply divided, bright green leaves. It is a plant for non-limestone soil but easy to succeed in ordinary, even clay soil.

It is commonly accepted that Russell hybrid lupins are hybrids obtained by cross-breeding Lupinus polyphyllus, a perennial plant native to North America, and Lupinus hartwegii, an annual Mexican species. The best of them were patiently selected in the 1930s by a gardener named George Russell, who was passionate about lupins. Since then, other enthusiasts have taken over and dedicated themselves to obtaining robust, floriferous, and very reliable varieties. It is in England that the 'Masterpiece' Lupinus was recently born. It is a vigorous, bushy herbaceous perennial plant, forming clumps 90 cm (35in) tall when in bloom and 60 cm (24in) wide, with rapid growth. In late spring and early summer, in May-June, it exhibits plump spikes, sometimes reaching 50 cm (20in) in length, somewhat stiff but very graphic, densely adorned with pea-like flowers measuring 1 to 3 cm (0 to 1in), violet-purple mixed with bright orange, a striking and particularly attractive harmony. Note that the flowers are slightly fragrant. The bright green and opulent foliage distinguishes it from other legumes by its palmate leaves, with a minimum of 5 leaflets radiating from a single petiole.

Hybrid lupins are plants with very good hardiness that spread without aggressiveness and prove resistant to diseases. Their only weakness remains their attraction to slugs and snails, which will need to be protected. Perfect in poor and too light soils, but devoid of limestone, perennial lupins readily self-seed in gardens that suit them. Soften their somewhat stiff silhouettes with plants with rounded curves, such as roses, oriental poppies, in matching colors. They thrive in the company of hollyhocks and peonies, creating beautiful low-maintenance beds. In natural areas, in dry meadows, hills, open forests, coastal strips, as well as on riverbanks, associate them with sainfoin, alfalfa, vetches, and grasses.