Our plant spotlight today is a new perennial Lupine.   Lupines are colorful favorites in the spring and summer garden.  They can be used as accent plants with shrubs, or used in the back of a perennial garden.  They are a wonderful complement with irises, peonies, bellflowers and annuals.   Attracting butterflies and hummingbirds to their colorful stalks is a delight for many gardeners, and Lupine can be brought inside to use as a cut flower.

‘The Chatelaine’ Russell Hybrids Lupine is a new plant we are carrying this year from  Walters Gardens.   Producing beautiful bicolor pink and white flower spikes above the attractive foliage, it will grow to 30″ to 36″ tall and does best in full sun to partial shade.  This early summer bloomer prefers rich, acidic soil.  A zone 3 plant, it prefers the cool summers of the north and when going farther south doesn’t fare as well.   It will be especially breathtaking when several clumps are planted together.