Silvery Lupine,Lupinus argenteus,Pea Family (Fabaceae)

​Found in sagebrush scrub and forest openings
Seen blooming in June near FS Road 137 in Carson National Forest

Last Saturday I took an excellent hike with Kirt Kempter to the rim of Copper Canyon as a reward for donating to the AAESP firetruck fund and learned a lot about the geology of this awesome place we call home. Go online to sign up for future events and to donate.

Many different flowers bloom at over 8,000 feet in elevation and Lupine is one of the showiest. They are characterized by their tall spikes of pea-shaped flowers which are usually blue/purple but can be white or pink. Their leaves are divided, spreading like the fingers of a hand, and this species has fine hairs on its stems and the underside of the leaves. They grow from 1 to 3 feet tall in masses, the height and density of the foliage varies by site and moisture. The Navajo applied a poultice of crushed leaves to poison ivy blisters. Some lupines are edible and the beans are a traditional food in some cultures but many contain poisonous alkaloids and should be avoided. Their pods look like hairy pea pods and could be eaten by children. The FDA warns against lupin flour and lupin protein used in gluten-free products if people are allergic to peanuts. Source.
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If you are trying to identify a different flower then you can check what other flowers bloom this month. If you cannot identify a flower from the website send a photo and where you took it to contact@rockymountainsflora.com. Read online for tips.