Lupin 'Gladiator' – Hardy Perennial (3L Pot)

Lupin 'Gladiator' is a hardy border lupin, sending up tall spires of deep pink and white bicoloured flowers above neat mounds of divided foliage.

The plant stands 90 to 100cm tall and 50 to 75cm wide, and the spikes open from June to July, held well clear of the leaves so the colour reads from across the garden. The leaves are mid green and palmate. The straight stems last well in a vase, and the plant keeps its shape in a border long after the first flush is over.

Give it an open spot in sun or light shade and ground that drains freely, because lupins dislike heavy soil that sits wet through the winter. It arrives as an established plant in a 3 litre pot, ready to go straight into a border or a large container. Cut the spent spikes off to encourage a second flush, and expect to replace plants after three or four years, which is normal for lupins rather than a sign of trouble.

Cultural Information

• Common Name: Lupin
• Fully Grown Height and Spread: 90 to 100cm tall and 50 to 75cm wide
• Growth Habit: Upright and clump forming
• Perfect For: Herbaceous borders, cottage gardens, cut flowers and large containers
• Foliage: Palmate leaves with many narrow leaflets
• Flowering Time: June to July
• Planting Position: Full sun or partial shade. Grows well in a large container
• Soil Type: Moist but well drained, slightly acidic to neutral. Avoid heavy ground that stays wet in winter
• Hardiness: Fully hardy in the UK
• Maintenance: Deadhead the spent spikes for a second flush and cut the foliage back in autumn. Lupins are short lived and usually need replacing after three or four years
• Seasonal Interest: Spring and summer
• Type: Hardy herbaceous perennial