Westcountry Manhattan Lights Lupine

Light Needs

Partial Sun to Full Sun

(At Least 5 Hours of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

2-3 Feet

Mature Spread

2 Feet

Growing Zones

4 to 9

Get ready to be astounded! The amazing color, texture, and form of this highly unusual lupine make it a showstopper. The very large flowers are burgundy purple and yellow. The bright green foliage, resembling palm leaves, provide fabulous texture and shape. This vibrant plant grows to a height of 24-36 inches on strong stems - creating punctuation through the garden, in early summer. Lupinus polyphyllus is a member of the legume (pea) family, thus fixes nitrogen in the soil. The densely packed blooms of 'Manhattan Lights' attract pollinators to your garden.

The growth habit is upright with a mass of sturdy spikes; the bright green foliage is mounding. These plants have few disease and pest problems – they are deer and rabbit resistant – protect them from slugs with copper tape or wildlife-friendly slug pellets. They are tolerant of drought. The garden lupine is a perennial herb native to western North America. This beauty was bred by a British nursery, Westcountry Nurseries, in Devonshire. Lovely in city gardens and courtyard gardens, it is a staple of the cottage garden. Use it in the border in a stunning mass planting or as a striking specimen or focal point. A very suitable cut flower, cut when about ¾ of the flowers are open to last longer.

Westcountry Manhattan Lights Lupine Care

Choose a sheltered location to protect it from the wind and avoid staking. Dig a hole in well-drained soil. Mulch to keep the roots cool. The plant needs good drainage. Water consistently with the equivalent of 1inch of rain each week. There is no need to fertilize, as too much may result in excessive foliage growth. It is happiest in part sun to sun in a sandy or clay soil with a pH that is slightly acidic.

By deadheading your lupines, you will extend the bloom time. Winter care is simple – just give them a good mulch. They are best grown in the ground because when planted in pots they may become weak and susceptible to attacks by aphids. If your lupines fail to bloom it may be because they have too much sun or heat.

Westcountry Manhattan Lights Lupine Spacing

Plant them in groups for the best visual impact, or plant them in large drifts among ornamental grasses. Space your plants 24-inches apart, measured center to center.