Red Rum Lupine

Red Rum Lupine (Lupinus 'Westcountry Red Rum')

Red Rum Lupine, Lupinus 'Westcountry Red Rum', is a bold perennial lupine that sends up tall, candle like spires of vivid red and warm yellow bicolor flowers above a lush mound of fresh green, hand shaped foliage. Blooming in late spring to early summer, each spike looks almost painted, with rich scarlet tones set off by golden highlights that bring drama and strong vertical accents to mixed borders and cottage style plantings. The dense clump of foliage shades the soil, frames surrounding perennials, and gives beds a finished look, while the striking flower spikes draw in bees and butterflies and create a natural focal point in cooler, sunny gardens.

Distinctive Features

Red Rum Lupine typically grows about 24 to 36 inches tall in bloom and 18 to 24 inches wide, forming a rounded clump of deeply divided, palmate leaves that provide texture and fullness even before flower stalks appear. Upright spikes are densely packed with pea like blossoms that open from the base upward, so buds, half open florets, and fully open flowers often show together for a long lasting display. Color runs through rich red, orange red, and golden to creamy yellow tones on each spike, creating a vivid contrast that reads clearly from a distance and pairs beautifully with white, blue, purple, and silver companions in early summer borders. In regions with cooler summers and well drained soil, plants can settle in and return for several seasons when spent spikes are removed promptly and the crown is kept out of heavy winter wet.

Growing Conditions

• Light: Prefers full sun with at least 6 hours of direct light daily and will tolerate light afternoon shade in hotter climates.
• Soil: Performs best in well drained, moderately fertile soil that is slightly acidic to neutral; avoid heavy, poorly drained locations where the crown may rot.
• Water: Water regularly during the first growing season to establish deep roots; once established, keep soil evenly moist but not soggy, allowing the surface to dry slightly between deep waterings.
• Hardiness: Suited to many temperate regions where perennial lupines are commonly grown, particularly areas with cooler summers and good air movement.
• Size: Typically reaches about 24 to 36 inches tall in bloom and 18 to 24 inches wide at maturity, depending on climate, soil, and care.
• Growth Rate: Moderate grower that often bulks up by the second season, producing more flowering stems as the crown matures.

Ideal Uses

• Mixed Perennial Borders: Combine with catmint, salvia, Shasta daisies, and ornamental grasses for layered plantings with strong vertical accents and warm, saturated color.
• Cottage and Pollinator Gardens: Pair with foxgloves, delphiniums, and roses in informal borders where the blossoms support bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.
• Early Summer Color Blocks: Plant in small groups or drifts to create bold towers of red and yellow at the middle of beds as the season gets going.
• Path and Seating Backdrops: Use along garden paths or near benches and patios so visitors can enjoy the flower spikes and visiting pollinators at close range.
• Cut Flower Gardens: Grow near cutting rows and harvest stems when the lower third of each spike is open for tall, eye catching 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: Deadhead spent flower spikes promptly by cutting them back to the foliage to keep the clump neat 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; avoid heavy nitrogen that encourages foliage at the expense of 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 Red Rum Lupine?

• Striking Bicolor Spikes: Rich red and yellow flower spikes create dramatic, eye catching accents that stand out in early summer borders.
• Attractive Foliage: Deeply divided, palmate leaves form a full, textured mound that keeps beds looking lush even between bloom cycles.
• Pollinator Friendly: Nectar rich blossoms support bees and butterflies, bringing movement and life to the garden.
• Garden Friendly Size: Medium height and tidy habit fit comfortably into most borders, narrow beds, and cut flower plantings.
• Design Flexibility: With its bold color, upright structure, and strong presence, Red Rum Lupine is an easy way to add seasonal interest, vertical structure, and a vibrant focal point to mixed borders, cottage gardens, and sunny perennial plantings.

With its tall red and yellow flower spikes, lush green foliage, and pollinator friendly bloom, Red Rum Lupine is an excellent choice for bringing early summer color, vertical structure, and lively garden presence to sunny beds, cottage style borders, and mixed perennial displays.