Desert lupine

Lupinus sparsiflorus

Drought tolerant, native annual legume with pale blue to purple flowers and a yellow mark on the upper petal which turns red after pollination, blooming January to June. Prefers sandy soils of mesas, washes and roadsides, often carpeting the desert floor for miles; up to 6,000 ft. elevation. Occurs in the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts when rainfall is adequate; later in other regions. Absent in drought years. Used often in restoration and erosion control.