Lupinus polyphyllus West Country Terracotta

The Lupine ‘Terracotta' brings a beautiful harmony of soft and warm tones to the varieties of the 'West Country' series. Its large and tall flower spikes blend tones of salmon pink, burnt apricot, and terracotta red, while diffusing a subtle fragrance, very different from that of usual lupines. It flowers early and generously, on sturdy stems that do not require staking. Its emerald green foliage, free from diseases, is decorative even outside of the flowering period. It adds verticality to flowerbeds, and its color warms up homemade bouquets. Give this robust perennial a sunny exposure, and a moist, lime-free soil, or its beautiful palmate leaves may turn yellow.

It is commonly believed 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 'West Country' varieties were recently born. Vigorous, disease-resistant, with sturdy flower stems and large flower spikes in light and vibrant colors, these lupins are excellent garden plants. All these plants belong to the Fabaceae family.

The 'Terracotta' lupin is a bushy and vigorous herbaceous perennial, forming clumps of 80 cm (32in) in flowering height and approximately 60 cm (24in) in width in the space of 3-4 years. In late spring and early summer, in May-June, it displays plump flower spikes, sometimes reaching 50 cm (20in) in length, with a slightly stiff but very graphic appearance, densely covered with pea-like flowers measuring 1 to 3 cm (0 to 1in). Their colour is quite indefinable, intermediate between pink, orange, brown, and light red. The flower buds, pink in color, open from the base of the spike towards its tip. The nectar-rich flowering of lupines attracts many pollinating insects. The lush foliage, in emerald green, stands out from other Fabaceae plants with its palmate leaves, counting at least 5 leaflets radiating from a single petiole. The vegetation disappears in winter and re-emerges in spring.

The 'West Country' hybrid lupins are plants with very good hardiness that spread without aggression and prove resistant to diseases. Their only weakness is the attraction they exert towards slugs and snails, which will need to be protected against. Perfect in poor, lime-free soils, perennial lupines readily self-seed in gardens that suit them and offer a good source of food for bees and butterflies. Soften their slightly stiff silhouettes with plants with rounded curves, such as roses and oriental poppies, in matching colors. They thrive in the company of hollyhocks and peonies, composing beautiful low-maintenance flowerbeds. In natural areas, associate them with sainfoin, alfalfa, perennial peas, and grasses. This 'West Country Terracotta' variety pairs particularly well with 'Red Rum,' 'Tequila Flame,' and 'Salmon Star' lupines, in a lovely range of pink, salmon, orange, yellow, and red.