Lupin Russell Hybrids Mix

€4,90
Lupin Russell Hybrids Mix

Lupin Russell Hybrids Mix

€4,90
Organic
Sustainable
Locally grown

Lupin Russell Hybrids Mix - technically Lupinus polyphyllus Russell Hybrid is a wonderful variety of lupines, forming stately flower spikes in an extraordinary range of colors above a rosette of palmate leaves.

The flowers are tall upright raceme of pea-like flowers - ranging in color from blues, pinks, reds, purples, whites, and bicolors.
The leaves are palmate, forming a basal roseette from which the flowers tower.

These lupins are bee magnets, attracting pollinators with their tall, nectar-rich flower spikes.

They can reach up to 1.2 meters (4 ft) in height, forming dramatic backdrops in garden borders.

While they are perennial, they often self-seed, creating naturalized patches over the years.

Note bene: the seedlings often do not breed true to the parent so the next generation of lupines in your garden will be yet another exciting round of colors!
Flowering July, August, September
Exposure Full Sun
Frost Tolerance -25°C to -30°C
Size 1.2m H x 0.6m W
Soil Moist, Nutrient-Dense, Well-Draining
Origin United Kingdom (though originally Lupinus polyphyllus is a North American species)
pda561
€4,90
In stock

🪴9x9 cm

🚂 Ships across EU
🌱 Grown in our nursery
Gardening Tips

Lupin Russell Hybrids Mix

Drought: Not highly drought tolerant. They prefer moderately moist, well-drained soil and may decline in prolonged dry spells, especially when young

. Established plants can survive short dry periods if soil retains some moisture, but consistent watering during hot summer months is recommended for best flowering and vigor.

Soil: Light to medium, well-drained, moderately fertile; avoid heavy clay or soggy soils

Sun exposure: Full sun is ideal; tolerates light shade but flowering may be reduced

Maintenance: Deadhead flower spikes to prolong bloom; cut back foliage after flowering to encourage healthy regrowth

Companion plants: Works well with delphiniums, campanulas, houttuynia

Dramatic color accents in spring/early summer

Learn more about gardening with Lupines:

ENG: Russell Lupines Growing Guide
ENG: Lupine Basics
ENG: Wonderful photos of a Toronto garden full of Lupines in full bloom : HERE
FR: Le lupin au jardin bio
The Botany
The Myth

Russell spent decades selectively breeding for taller spikes, larger blooms, and an extraordinary range of colors—reds, blues, pinks, yellows, and bicolors.

So, Russell’s Mix lupins are named after George Russell himself, who reportedly spent over 20 years perfecting these hybrids, making them one of the earliest examples of intentional ornamental plant breeding in Europe.

Lupinus polyphyllus Russell’s Mix, commonly called Russell Hybrids, is a perennial garden lupin developed by English horticulturist George Russell in the early 20th century.

You can read about the full story here: Russell Lupines: The Story Behind the Glory of Those Colorful Spires

It is a hybrid of Lupinus polyphyllus (the native North American species) with selective breeding for large flower spikes, bright colors, and long-lasting blooms.

Their popularity soared after they were first exhibited at the Royal Horticultural Society show in 1937, where they wowed gardeners and have remained a staple ever since.

Floral Morphology: Lupin Russell Hybrids Mix

Russell lupins have tall, upright racemes of pea-like flowers, typical of the Fabaceae family.

Each flower is zygomorphic (bilaterally symmetrical) with a banner, wings, and keel, and produces nectar to attract bees and other pollinators.

Flowers can be single-colored, bi-colored, or multicolored, depending on the cultivar, and open from the bottom to the top of the spike over several weeks in late spring to early summer.

Leaves are palmately compound, usually with 7–15 lance-shaped leaflets radiating from a central point, forming a low rosette from which the flower spikes emerge.

Reproductive Biology

Russell hybrids are hermaphroditic and largely cross-pollinated by bees, although self-pollination can occur.

They readily set seed, and while the hybrids may produce viable seeds, seedlings often do not breed true to the parent, so propagation is usually done by division or purchasing named cultivars.

Deadheading spent flower spikes encourages more flowering and keeps the plant tidy, although many gardeners allow some seeds to drop naturally to self-sow in favorable conditions. Mature plants are perennial, typically living 5–7 years, although vigor may decline after several seasons unless divided

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