Lupinus polyphyllus West Country Towering Inferno

The Lupin 'Towering Inferno' is one of the tallest and most brightly coloured varieties in the 'West Country' series. Its large flower spikes display a rare color in which the flames of hell shine in red-orange speckled with yellow. Produced abundantly from early spring by a vigorous growing plant, they radiate like torches in perennial borders and awaken bouquets. This new generation lupin develops strong flowering stems, which do not require staking, and proves more resistant to diseases. Provide this robust perennial with a sunny exposure and a deep, moist soil, free of limestone, otherwise its beautiful palmate leaves may turn yellow.

It is commonly believed that Russell hybrid lupins are hybrids obtained by cross-breeding Lupinus polyphyllus, a perennial plant native to North America, and Lupinus hartwegii, an annual Mexican species. 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 dedicated themselves to obtaining robust, floriferous, and very reliable varieties. It is in England that the 'West Country' varieties were recently born. Vigorous, disease-resistant, with strong flowering stems and large flower spikes in light and vivid colors, these lupins are excellent garden plants.

The 'Towering Inferno' lupin is a bushy and vigorous herbaceous perennial, forming clumps of 90 cm (35in) in height when in flower and about 60 cm (24in) wide in the space of 3-4 years. In late spring and early summer, in May-June, it displays plump spikes, sometimes reaching 50 cm (20in) in length, somewhat rigid in appearance but very graphic, densely filled with pea-like flowers measuring 1 to 3 cm (0 to 1in). The majority of them are orange tinged with red, those located towards the top of the spike are touched with yellow at the base. The floral buds open from the bottom to the top of the inflorescence. The lush foliage, a bright green, stands out from that of other legumes with its palmate leaves, with a minimum of 5 leaflets radiating from a single petiole. The vegetation disappears in winter and re-emerges in spring.

'West Country' hybrid lupins are plants with very good hardiness that spread without aggressiveness and prove resistant to diseases. Their only weakness remains their attraction to slugs and snails, which will need protection. Perfect in poor, limestone-free soils, perennial lupins readily self-seed in suitable gardens. Soften their somewhat rigid silhouettes with plants with rounded curves, such as roses, oriental poppies, in matching colors. They thrive in the company of hollyhocks and peonies, composing beautiful low-maintenance borders. In natural areas, associate them with sainfoin, alfalfa, perennial peas, and grasses. This 'Towering Inferno' variety pairs particularly well with 'Terracotta', 'Red Rum', and 'Salmon Star' lupins, forming a flamboyant quartet.