We’re loopy for lupins
PERHAPS it’s hard to imagine lupins hogging the limelight, but in 1937 a revolutionary new type caused quite a commotion. The brightly coloured ‘Russell Hybrids’ made newspaper headlines following their flower-show debut, resulting in 80,000 people descending upon a small nursery in the West Midlands to see them.
Until then, lupins were largely ignored due to their straggly blooms. Those bred by George Russell were bigger, stronger and brighter, turning them into a border essential. In a British Pathé film on lupins from 1960, the narrator declared that Russell ‘added more colour to the English garden than any other man’.
The chances of lupins hitting the dizzying heights of yesteryear are unlikely, yet there are signs of a comeback.
According to DIY retail giant Homebase, sales of lupins have outstripped every other plant since its stores reopened in early May. The company puts the surge down to gardeners looking to improve their mood after months of lockdown.
Plant buyer David Mitchell believes that people are turning to bold, colourful species because they are ideal for ‘creating a haven at home’.
As far as I’m concerned, that’s only part of their current appeal. Lupins offer an escape from turbulent times due to their association with a romantic, cottage-garden style and they evoke strong nostalgic feelings.
For example, in the 1990s, Elton John asked garden designer Rosemary Verey to plant lupins at his London home because they reminded him of childhood.
Apart from their aesthetic value, lupins will fill the early summer air with a spicy, heady scent that’s most noticeable in the morning and evening. The distinctive perfume is thought to help attract bumblebees, which will almost climb inside the flowers to extract pollen.
Lupins originate from the Mediterranean and North Africa, along with parts of North, Central and South America, where they can be found in a range of locations such as hillsides, grassland, woodland and riverbanks.
Wild plants tend to have white, blue or purplish flowers, spaced out widely on stalks.
Today, there are scores of varieties forming clumps of palmate leaves topped with 15in-to-3ft-tall cylindrical flower spikes from l ate spring until mid- summer, depending on variety. Blooms come in a rainbow of shades, with some boasting showy bi-coloured flower spikes.
Sadly, only a handful of the 152 varieties developed by George Russell remain, but there are some amazing modern types. Those bred by Westcountry Nurseries are firstrate, admired for their uniformity, vigour and strident colours.
Lupins are best in neutral to slightly acidic soil, but will do well in just about any fertile, welldrained soil, as long as it’s not too chalky – excessive alkaline conditions will result in green leaves turning yellow. They will tolerate a bit of shade but tend to flower more reliably when basking in the sun.
Use taller varieties to punctuate the middle of beds and borders, or plant in swathes among ornamental grasses for a contemporary look. Meanwhile, shorter plants are ideal for displaying in large pots filled with good-quality compost – I like to use multi-purpose compost with added John Innes.
A great trick I learned a long time ago is to cut back flower spikes as they fade. As the plant is prevented from setting seed, it diverts all of its energy into producing a second flush of flowers. Appearing later in summer or even early autumn, they tend to be smaller than the first lot, but are welcome all the same.
Over time, lupins form large clumps, so keep plants healthy, floriferous and within bounds by lifting, dividing and replanting smaller sections – do this every two to three years in spring.
With care, plants will provide interest for about seven years before they run out of steam.
They’ll fill the early summer air with a spicy, heady scent