Japanese name: キバナルピナス Scientific name:Lupinus luteus
[Overview]
An annual about 40–60 cm tall.
The whole plant is covered with soft white hairs.
The stem is erect and well branched.
The leaves are alternate and palmately compound with 7–9 leaflets, which are oblanceolate to linear-lanceolate.
The leaf stalks are long.
At the stem tips, erect racemes about 20 cm long bear densely packed flowers.
The flowers are yellow, pea-shaped, and slightly fragrant.
The fruit is a pod with hairs on its surface.
[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed.
It has a taproot and dislikes transplanting, so sow directly, or sow in pots and transplant in early spring.
It prefers fertile soil that is sunny, well drained, moisture-retentive and well aerated.
It dislikes acidic soil.
For potted plants, water thoroughly after the soil surface has dried.
It dislikes excess moisture, but if it becomes too dry the leaves may turn black and drop.
Apply organic fertilizer as a base fertilizer, and top-dress with slow-release chemical fertilizer in spring.
Fertilizer high in nitrogen makes the stems and leaves leggy and reduces flowering.
Pests and diseases include spider mites and aphids.
