Lupin
Lupinus
An ornamental plant, planted March to October, or sown March to July.
In September: cut back the lupin. It can be planted out now.
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Lupin, month by month
Bar: the usual months. Sprout: this month.
| Sowing, planting or job | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | 2027Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow under cover. | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | usual | usual | usual | none | none |
| Sow outdoors. | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | usual | usual | usual | none |
| Plant out. | usual | usual | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | usual | usual | usual |
| Plant a pot-grown lupin. | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | usual | usual | usual | none | none |
| Cut the lupin back hard after flowering. | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | usual | none |
| Cut back the lupin. | usual | usual | usual | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none |
| Clear away the dead lupin stems and leaves. | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | none | none | none | none | none |
What to do, and when
The usual months for a UK garden. Your own plan gives the week.
Sowing and planting
Sow under cover March to June, 1.5cm deep. Moderate source: Mr Fothergill’s.
Sow outdoors April to July, 1.5cm deep, 5cm apart. Moderate source: Mr Fothergill’s.
Plant out May to October, 60cm apart. Moderate source: Mr Fothergill’s.
Plant a pot-grown lupin March to June, 30 to 40cm apart. Strong sources: RHS and Mr Fothergill’s.
Cut the lupin back hard after flowering
Gardeners call this the Hampton hack.
Cut the faded flower spikes and tired leaves to just above the base.
Usually June to July. Moderate source: RHS.
Cut back the lupin
Cut all the growth, stems and leaves, right back to the ground.
Usually September to November. Moderate source: Gardeners’ World.
Clear away the dead lupin stems and leaves
If you leave the dying leaves over winter, clear them away when new shoots appear.
Usually March. Weaker source: GardenFocused.
What the source words mean
Strong: the RHS page for this plant is among them.Moderate: another trusted UK source, or the RHS on its group.Weaker: a blog, a forum, a small website or a page from outside the UK. Treat it as a guide.
Every line above names the page it comes from. Where we found no good source for a job, we left it out. Where the name “Lupin” comes from.