Lupinus WEST COUNTRY™ 'MANHATTAN LIGHTS' lupines
size/type
mid-sized perennial,mid-sized perennial
usual height
0,8-1m
usual width
0,3-0,5m
leaves
deciduous broadleaf
colour of leaves
flowers
showy
colour of flowers
blooming time
May-July
location
full to partial sun
USDA zone (lowest)
4 (down to -34°C)
winter protection
for zone 5+6
for zone 7
categorized
Lupinus
Lupines are the inevitable item of English gardens as well as Czech woodlands. They come from North America and naturally grow in sunny locations of moist woodland edges and rocky slopes where their roots establish well in crevices that never lack moisture but are well draining. Deciduous, palmate leaves are deep green and very attractive as they are finely divided.Description of the plant:
Sarah Conibear from the Westcountry Nurseries is the breeder of many successful lupines varieties that have achieved a lot of medals including a gold medal from the Chelsea Flower Show Centenary Year. The nursery is located in the north-west of Devon, UK, and is proud to introduce many gorgeous lupines including this one – Manhattan Lights. It has 80-90 cm tall stems with bi-coloured flowers. The upper lip is rich yellow and the bell is deep violet purple. Its blooming season starts as early as late May and continues for incredible 6-8 weeks if spent flowers are removed as soon as they begin to fade. After such a long blooming period the plant is usually weak and unsightly so cutting back will encourage production of new foliage that will be attractive until the end of the growing season. Manhattan Lights is a patented variety, protected by PP18868 from 2008, and may not be reproduced without license.Lupines like free draining soil that retains moisture and is preferably acidic. They can fix nitrogen from the atmosphere and distribute it through their roots. This is why they are often used as pioneer plants in poor soils. Beware of slugs which can devastate both your seedlings as well as old clumps. The flowering spikes are sturdy but fleshy and should be planted where they can be protected from the extreme wind blasts that could bend or break them. Unlike sweet-lupines whose seeds are edible, ornamental lupines (bitter-lupines) can be harmful if eaten. These plants are short-lived and should be dug out in the spring every 3-5 years, woody parts removed, and new plants put pack to encourage fresh growth. Hardy to about -34°C.
Last update 15-09-2014
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GLOSSARY
- STANDARD QUALITY - Plants of this group are 1st class quality with number of branches and overall density adequate to their size and age, considering they were container grown.
- DE LUXE QUALITY - This label guarantees a luxurious quality of manually selected plants that, compared to their height and age, are exceptionally dense and beautiful.
- EXTRA - These plants are usually mature and bigger specimens with exceptional overall appearance.
- STANDARD (as described in the plant form) means a tree with a trunk of 190-210 cm and a crown at the top, unless specified differently. The commercial size for trees is their girth measured in the height of 1m from ground.
- HOBBY - These plants are of the same quality as our standard-quality plants but younger and therefore cheaper.
- SHRUB - a woody plant with branches growing bushy from the ground level.
- HALF-STANDARD or MINI-STANDARD - a small tree with shorter trunk, its size is usually specified.
- FEATHERED - These are trees with branches growing already from the base of the trunk and up along the stem.
- GRASSES and PERENNIALS - Sizes given usually read the diameter of the pot or the clump, as specified.
