Lupin 'Tall Mix' 'Tall Mix'

Lupin ‘Tall Mix’ (Lupinus) comprises a group of lupins with long spikes in shades of pink, yellow, purple and white. The small flowers bloom successively along the stalks and add verticality to the flowerbed. Place this mix behind shorter plants, where the spikes will remain visible without obscuring the entire foreground. A varied palette is suitable for a cottage garden or a free-form border. You can also use just one of the colours from the mix in neighbouring plantings to tie everything together. Ensure access to remove faded stalks and observe young shoots.

Plant lupins in full sun in well-drained soil, avoiding areas where water accumulates after rain. Prepare the location before planting to handle the roots as little as possible. Arrange them without bending and water after planting to promote contact with the soil. During the first season, monitor moisture during dry periods and hand-weed around young shoots. Lupins do not need excessively enriched soil to flower. Therefore, avoid systematic and excessive fertiliser application; first observe the plants' vigour and development.

If the stalks are exposed to wind, install discreet support before they become difficult to keep upright. Cut off faded spikes to maintain a neat appearance and encourage continued flowering when conditions permit. Monitor for slugs near young shoots and aphids on the stalks, then intervene according to the damage present. At the end of the season, remove foliage when it has died naturally. Wear gloves when handling the plants and keep them out of reach of children or animals likely to eat them: ornamental lupins are not intended for consumption and can be toxic.