Gallery Red Lupine

Gallery Red Lupine (Lupinus 'Gallery Red')

Gallery Red Lupine, Lupinus 'Gallery Red', is a compact perennial lupine that sends up sturdy, candle like spires of rich red blossoms above neat mounds of fresh green, hand shaped foliage. Blooming in late spring to early summer, this shorter variety slips easily into the front or middle of borders, delivering strong vertical accents and warm color without overpowering nearby plants. The dense clump of foliage shades the soil and frames neighboring perennials, while the showy spikes draw in bees and butterflies and create a natural focal point in cooler, sunny beds and cottage style gardens.

Distinctive Features

Gallery Red Lupine typically grows about 18 to 24 inches tall in bloom and 12 to 18 inches wide, forming a compact, rounded clump that suits smaller spaces and container plantings. Deeply divided, palmate leaves create a full, textured base that looks attractive even before flower stalks appear. Each upright spike is densely packed with pea like flowers that open from the base upward, so buds, half open blooms, and fully open flowers often appear together for an extended display. The bold red tones show clearly from a distance and blend beautifully with white, yellow, blue, and purple companions in early summer borders.

Growing Conditions

• Light: Prefers full sun with at least 6 hours of direct light daily and will accept light afternoon shade in hotter regions.
• Soil: Performs best in well drained, moderately fertile soil that is slightly acidic to neutral; avoid heavy, poorly drained spots that can cause crown rot.
• Water: Water regularly during the first growing season to establish deep roots, then keep soil evenly moist but not soggy, allowing the surface to dry slightly between deep waterings.
• Hardiness: Well suited to many temperate regions where lupines are commonly grown, especially areas with cooler summers and good air movement.
• Size: Typically reaches 18 to 24 inches tall in bloom and 12 to 18 inches wide at maturity, depending on climate, soil, and care.
• Growth Rate: Moderate grower that often bulks up in the second season, producing more flowering stems as the crown matures.

Ideal Uses

• Mixed Perennial Borders: Combine with catmint, salvia, Shasta daisies, and low ornamental grasses to create layered plantings with strong vertical accents and warm color.
• Cottage and Pollinator Gardens: Pair with foxgloves, delphiniums, and roses in informal borders where the flowers support bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.
• Front and Middle of Beds: Use toward the front or mid border to add height and seasonal drama without blocking smaller plants behind.
• Path and Seating Backdrops: Plant along garden paths or near benches and patios so visitors can enjoy the flower spikes and visiting pollinators at close range.
• Cut Flower and Color Blocks: Grow in small groups or drifts and harvest stems when the lower third of the spike is open for bright, vertical additions to fresh arrangements.

Low Maintenance Care

• Watering: After establishment, water during extended dry periods with deep, occasional soakings rather than frequent light sprinklings to encourage deep roots and sturdy plants.
• Pruning: Remove spent flower spikes promptly by cutting them back to the foliage to keep the clump tidy and encourage side shoots and possible repeat bloom.
• Fertilizing: In early spring, apply a light dose of balanced, slow release fertilizer or a thin layer of compost if soil is lean, avoiding heavy nitrogen that favors foliage over flowers.
• Mulching: Apply a light layer of organic mulch around, but not on top of, the crown to help conserve moisture and moderate soil temperature while keeping the base of the plant open to air.
• Seasonal Care: In late fall, cut back spent stems once they have browned, and in colder climates consider a loose mulch over the root zone to buffer freeze and thaw cycles, thinning it in early spring as new growth emerges.

Why Choose Gallery Red Lupine?

• Compact, Garden Friendly Size: Short, sturdy growth fits easily into smaller borders and containers while still delivering strong vertical color.
• Bold Red Flower Spikes: Rich red blooms provide cheerful, eye catching color that pairs well with many classic perennials.
• Attractive Foliage: Palmate leaves form a full, textured mound that looks good even when the plant is between bloom cycles.
• Pollinator Friendly: Nectar rich blossoms support bees and butterflies, adding movement and life to the garden.
• Design Versatility: With its compact habit, upright bloom spikes, and easy to place color, Gallery Red Lupine is a simple way to add seasonal interest, vertical structure, and a natural focal point to mixed borders, cottage gardens, and cut flower beds.

With its neat habit, vivid red flower spikes, and lush green foliage, Gallery Red Lupine is an excellent choice for bringing early summer color, vertical structure, and pollinator activity to sunny beds, cottage style plantings, and mixed perennial borders.