I’ve tried for years to grow Lupine from seed and have never had any success. This year I cheated and bought 50 Russell Lupine roots from the nursery. Of course this is not really cheating, I only say that because I enjoy the challenge of propagating my own plants. Not everyone has access to the kind of facilities I have… so that’s why there are nurseries and garden centers.
Anyway, here is what a lupine root looks like:
Back in March we had a kind of warm spell. We took advantage of the weather to plant the lupine roots. Twenty-five of the larger roots went in in front of some very tall (14′) climbing roses:
We simply dug a trench and were careful to spread out the roots before we covered them up.
Meanwhile, I took the remaining roots and planted them into 6′ plastic pots and placed them into our semi-heated portable greenhouse. I just let them “simmer” in there, keeping them watered of course, until the end of April.
During their stay in the portable greenhouse they developed a wonderful rootball:
I planted them as I would any other potted plant.
Now, a month later…the results:
The lupine are the tall skinny flowers, the ball of star-like flowers is an Allium. This was a mixed batch of Lupine. There are different shades of pinks and blues in this bed.
After all these years of wanting Lupine I finally got them…and it was so easy! 
Bob
Hi,
Me too; I also am learning about propagating plants. Guess I am in the kindergarden stage, tho. I can do the “easy” stuff, like the semi-ripe cuttings that you take in the spring. Or layering of stems, etc., When I try other things, I don’t have as much success. But I keep trying.
Comment by Mary Quite Contary — May 24, 2007 @ 10:39 am
Mary,
I know what you mean, there’s so much to learn…and it takes patience. If you miss it the first time, you have to wait until the next season to make your adjustments and try it again!
Comment by Bob — May 24, 2007 @ 4:22 pm
Greetings, I get the feeling that lubine are hard to grow in your area. Here, in Nova Scotia, they are growing wild especialy along the coast, more so than inland. They seem to like the cooler foggy air. The southwestern part or the province is just loaded with them. They just grow wild along the highways of s.w. n.s. also known as ” The Lupine Trail “.
Comment by louis in digby ns — May 28, 2007 @ 8:00 pm
Hello Louis, Welcome to our blog. You may be the most distant reader we have.
I have always wanted to see the Bay of Fundy area since my wife’s parents visited there some 20 years ago and told us how much they enjoyed their visit.
It seems that at least I have had trouble growing them, others in our area may have had better luck. Southern Michigan weather is not as reliably cool and damp as I gather Nova Scotia’s is.
Judging by your description, the Lupine Trail has all the makings of wonderful spring-time vacation.
Comment by Bob — May 29, 2007 @ 4:20 pm