This California native annual has striking yellow flowers, reaching to about two feet tall. As with all lupines, treating seeds with hot water helps improve germination. Seedlings should be protected from slugs and birds, which can decimate the entire crop quickly. This year, there are a lot of seedlings in my yard and they have survived so far. I was very generous with the slug bait this year.
It had previously been called Lupinus densiflorus var. aureus, and it is probably still offered as such or some other combinations of similar names. The packets I purchased just read Lupinus 'Ed Gedling,' so they just cut to the chase. The botanical name now is quite descriptive of the plant, with microcarpus referring to its small fruit and densiflorus describing its densely flowered inflorescence. Its common name at this point would be something like Ed Gedling Chick Lupine, while as L. d. var. aureus it would have been the Ed Gedling Golden Lupine. Kind of a shame to lose that appellation.
They bloom later in the Spring, so mix with other annuals that bloom that time of year. I've seen photos of 'Ed Gedling' with Clarkia unguiculata, which provide a range of red, pink, salmon, and white flowers. This year, I'm trying them with Gilia capitata, a nice blue. 'Ed Gedling' was selected for its striking yellow flowers, but other color forms are available.
Some photos show the flowers turning orange as they age. This is likely a sign that the flower had been pollinated. Many lupine flowers will change to a darker color after they've been visited by bees or some other critter.
