Lupinus polyphyllus West Country Red Rum

The Lupin 'Red Rum', from the excellent 'West Country' series, stands out with its spikes of flowers in a superb red-pink, subtly speckled with white. Produced abundantly and from the end of spring by a vigorous growth plate, they radiate in perennial flowerbeds and are perfect in bouquets. This new generation lupin develops strong floral stems, which do not need staking, and proves more resistant to diseases. Offer this robust perennial a sunny exposure, and a deep and cool soil, devoid of limestone, otherwise its beautiful palmate leaves may turn yellow.

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, a passionate Lupin enthusiast. Since then, other enthusiasts have taken over and have dedicated themselves to obtaining robust, floriferous and very reliable varieties. It is in England that the 'West Country' varieties were recently created. Vigorous, disease-resistant, with strong floral stems and large spikes of flowers in light and vibrant colours, these lupins are excellent garden plants.

The 'Red Rum' lupin, introduced in 2006, is a bushy and vigorous herbaceous perennial plant, forming clumps of 90 cm (35in) in height when in flower and about 60 cm (24in) in width within 3-4 years. In late spring and early summer, in May-June, it displays plump spikes, sometimes reaching 50 cm (20in) in length, with a slightly stiff but very graphic appearance, densely adorned with pea-like flowers measuring 1 to 3 cm (0 to 1in). The majority of them are a rich and intense red-pink, with some touched with white at the base. The opulent foliage, with a slightly bluish green colour, distinguishes itself from other legumes by its palmate leaves, with a minimum of 5 leaflets radiating from the same petiole. The vegetation disappears in winter and reappears in spring.

The 'West Country' hybrid lupins are plants with a very good hardiness that spread without aggressiveness and prove resistant to diseases. Their only weakness remains their attractiveness to slugs and snails, which will need to be protected against. Perfect in poor soils, but devoid of limestone, perennial lupins readily self-seed in gardens where they thrive. Soften their slightly stiff silhouettes with plants with rounded curves, such as roses and oriental poppies, in matching colours. They enjoy the company of delphiniums and peonies, creating beautiful low-maintenance flowerbeds. In natural areas, associate them with sainfoin, alfalfa, perennial peas, and grasses. This 'West Country' variety pairs particularly well with 'Blossom' and 'Polar Princess' lupins, forming a magnificent trio in white, pink, and red.