Lupinus Gallery Yellow

Lupinus 'Gallery Yellow' is part of a series of very compact, vigorous, and remarkably floriferous hybrids. It is easy to integrate into perennial borders and is adapted to growing in large containers. The plant forms a clump of light green foliage, wider than it is tall, from which emerge up to 12 spikes of fragrant, bright yellow flowers in late spring and early summer. It looks magnificent next to the blue candles of Lupinus 'Gallery Blue'. This cultivar is also resistant to diseases. It will thrive in full sun or partial shade, in moist soil, without excess limestone.

Lupinus 'Gallery Yellow' is a horticultural hybrid resulting, among others, from Lupinus polyphyllus, a perennial plant native to North America, and Lupinus hartwegii, an annual Mexican species. All these plants belong to the Fabaceae family. The best of them were patiently selected in the 1930s by a gardener named George Russell, who was passionate about lupins. Since then, other enthusiasts have taken over and have dedicated themselves to obtaining robust, floriferous, and very reliable varieties. 'Gallery Yellow' stands out for its low and dense clump-like habit. It is a bushy and vigorous herbaceous perennial plant, measuring on average 50cm (20in) tall and 70cm (28in) wide, with a rapid growth rate. From May to July, it displays spikes that are somewhat rigid but very sculptural. They are densely adorned with pea-like flowers measuring 1 to 3cm (1in), ranging in different shades of yellow, from golden cream to golden yellow when fully open. Note that the flowers are slightly fragrant. The rich and lush green foliage stands out from that of other Fabaceae by its palmate leaves, with at least 5 leaflets radiating from a single petiole.

Lupinus 'Gallery Yellow' is a good ground cover plant. It thrives in open meadows, hills, clear forests, coastal strips, cliffs, and river banks. It is an excellent plant for perennial border edges and flower beds. It also performs very well in pots. Hybrid lupins are plants with a very good hardiness that spread without being invasive. They prove resistant to diseases. Their only weakness is that snails and slugs love them. Perfect for poor and light soils, but without limestone, Gallery perennial lupins readily self-sow in suitable gardens, giving a profusion of often fragrant spikes in rainbow colours. Soften their somewhat rigid silhouettes with plants with rounded curves, such as ground-cover roses and oriental poppies, in matching colours. They thrive in the company of hollyhocks and peonies, creating beautiful low-maintenance borders.