Remarkably, this rather insignificant female reproductive structure swells into a modestly large hairy pod containing 6-8 seeds. Arctic lupine ranges throughout British Columbia, extending to Alaska, Northwest Territories, Alberta and Washington State. A plant of open ground, it thrives in mid to high elevations of the subalpine and alpine zone, painting meadows blue over many hectares. Lupines have found their way into gardens, though most of our native species have yet to be tried seriously. Certainly other species have great potential in native seed mixtures for the restoration of disturbed landscapes, particularly because lupines can fix nitrogen from the atmosphere and improve soil fertility.
Trials are now under way of many native species.
Among these, Arctic lupine deserves attention by the gardener because of its relatively compact growth form and showy blossoms. Grow these lupines from seed collected and sown in the fall into a sand-peat soil mix. To improve germination, you may want to scratch the hard seed coat, or steep the seeds in hot water for a while. Lupines have widely been grown as fodder and even food in Europe. However, several lupine species contain poisonous alkaloids.