Sundial Lupine

Ecology & Conservation

Proximity Score

1

Native Status

❌ Outaouais ❌ Ottawa ❌ QC ✅ ON

Closest Direction

S

CEC Eco-Regions

8 – Eastern Temperate Forests, 8.1 – Mixed Wood Plains, 8.1.1 – Eastern Great Lakes and Hudson Lowlands

Rarity Notes

Globally secure (G5) but nationally imperiled in Canada (N2) and provincially imperiled in Ontario (S2). Not listed under SARA. Ontario populations are restricted to sandy habitats in the southern part of the province and have declined due to habitat loss and fire suppression. The species is the sole larval host of the federally endangered Karner Blue butterfly.

S22 G5, N2, S2; S26 SARA not listed; S4 Karner Blue host

Rarity Ranks

ON S2 – Imperiled

Migration

Stable

Ecological Context

Sundial lupine inhabits dry, sandy, open habitats including oak savannas, pine barrens, sand prairies, and open clearings. It is strongly associated with well-drained, acidic, nutrient-poor sandy soils and fire-maintained landscapes. As a nitrogen-fixer, it enriches otherwise impoverished substrates. In Ontario it is imperiled (S2), restricted to scattered sandy sites in the southern part of the province.

S7 dry sandy ground, prairies, oak savannas; S4 sand hills, open woods; S22 S2 ON; S29 nitrogen fixer

Permaculture & Companion Planting

Roles

Fortress/Barrier, Insectary Plant, Nitrogen Fixer, Nutrient Accumulator, Pollinator Attractor

S73/S29/S72 Evidence: Fortress/Barrier: S61 keyword match: thorns? (supporting signal only)] | Insectary Plant: S72 Hemenway (tables: 6-2, appendix_a, pp. 96, 148, 186); S64 NPPBI 'beneficial insects' flag] | Nitrogen Fixer: S72 Hemenway (tables: 6-2, appendix_a, pp. 96, 148, 186)] | Nutrient Accumulator: S72 Hemenway (tables: 6-2, appendix_a, pp. 96, 148, 186)] | Pollinator Attractor: S73 [HIGH]: S64 Xerces listed (source-classified)]

Notes

As a nitrogen-fixer and dynamic nutrient accumulator (N, P), sundial lupine enriches sandy, nutrient-poor soils for neighbouring plants. Its insectary function attracts bumble bees and specialist bees that service nearby crops and natives. In permaculture design it serves as an herb-layer nitrogen fixer in fruit tree guilds, particularly suited to well-drained, acidic sites. Its shallow root plate and clumping habit make it a non-competitive guild partner.

S72 N-fixer, insectary, nutrient accumulator (N, P); S29 dynamic accumulator, flat shallow roots

Medicinal Properties

ℹ

Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any plant for medicinal purposes. The information provided is compiled from secondary sources for educational purposes only.

Click here for more info →

Category

Antiemetic, Antihemorrhagic

S28 Cherokee Drug categories; S29 antiemetic, haemostatic

Notes

Cherokee used a cold infusion of leaves to check hemorrhage and vomiting. Menominee used the plant as a veterinary aid to fatten horses and make them spirited, and rubbed it on hands or body for power over horses. PFAF rates medicinal value 1 of 5, indicating limited documented medicinal use.

S28 Cherokee antiemetic/antihemorrhagic, Menominee veterinary; S29 cold tea for nausea and internal haemorrhages

Edibility & Foraging

ℹ

Never ingest a plant unless you have 100% certainty of its identity and have consulted multiple reputable sources. The information provided in the Localeaf Plant Database is compiled from secondary sources for educational and historical purposes only.

Click here for more info →

❌ Not Edible   

Foraging Notes

Seeds and seedpods are technically edible after thorough leaching to remove bitter toxic alkaloids, then cooked as a protein-rich vegetable or ground into powder. However, preparation is laborious and the risk of alkaloid poisoning makes this an emergency food rather than a culinary staple. Fungal toxins also readily invade crushed seed.

S29 seed/seedpod edible after leaching; PFAF edibility 3/5

Toxicity

⚠️ Moderate Toxicity

Not listed in Cornell poisonous plants database. However, seeds contain lupine alkaloids (lupinine, anagyrine, sparteine, hydroxylupanine) that are toxic if ingested in large quantities, causing respiratory depression, slow heartbeat, sleepiness, and convulsions. Alkaloids can be leached by soaking. Fungal toxins readily invade crushed seed. OWSL notes toxic to mammals if ingested. Overall toxicity risk is low with normal handling but seeds should not be consumed without extensive preparation.

S38 not listed; S4 alkaloids in seeds; S29 toxic alkaloids in seed; S3 toxic to mammals

Seed Source

• Northern Wildflowers
• OSC
• Prairie Moon