Lupin - Hartweggii Mix Seed

Name: Lupin - Hartweggii Mix Seed
Brand: Wattle Tree Ridge
Price: 3.5 AUD
Availability: InStock

$3.50

GST Included

Unlike tall garden lupins that can flop over, 'Hartwegii' stays bushy and upright, making it perfect for borders, pots, and small gardens. The mix offers a stunning array of bright blues, pinks, and yellows that are rare in other annuals. As a legume, it fixes nitrogen in the soil, improving soil health for subsequent crops, while the flowers attract bees and butterflies .

🌱 Plant Identity

Scientific Name: Lupinus hartwegii
Common Names: Hartweg's Lupin (Annual Lupin)
Type: Annual (completes life cycle in one season)
Flowers: Dense spikes of pea-like flowers in a vibrant mix of blue, pink, white, yellow, and bicolors. Blooms appear in late winter to spring .

Quantity

Only 5 left in stock

Sowing Method: Seeds have a hard coat and benefit from scarification (nicking the seed coat with a file or nail clipper) or soaking in warm water for 12–24 hours before sowing to speed up germination .

Direct Sowing: Scatter seeds and cover lightly with soil (1cm deep). They prefer to be sown where they are to grow as they dislike root disturbance .

Trays: If using trays, use deep pots to accommodate the taproot. Germination takes 10–21 days at 15–20°C .

Transplanting: If starting in trays, transplant very carefully when seedlings have 2–3 true leaves. Disturbing the taproot can stunt or kill the plant .

Maintenance:

No Fertilizer Needed: Generally, no fertilizer is required. If the soil is very poor, a light application of a low-nitrogen, high-phosphorus fertilizer (like one for bulbs) can help flowering .

Deadheading: Remove spent flower spikes to encourage a second flush of blooms and prevent self-seeding if you don't want volunteers .

Staking: While 'Hartwegii' is shorter than garden lupins, tall spikes in windy areas may still need light staking .

Harvesting: Excellent for cut flowers. Cut stems when the lower flowers on the spike have just opened. They last 5–7 days in a vase .
Subtropical QLD (Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba):

Sow: March to August (Autumn to late Winter) .

Why: They are a cool-season annual. Sowing in autumn/winter allows them to establish before the heat of summer. They will flower profusely from late winter through spring (August–November). Summer heat kills them.

Tropical QLD (Cairns, Townsville, Far North):

Sow: May to July (Dry season) .

Why: Avoid the wet season (Dec–Mar) to prevent root rot. Planting in the cool, dry months ensures they mature before the rains return.

Arid/Inland QLD (Charleville, Longreach):

Sow: July to September (Late winter to early spring) .
Sun: Requires full sun (at least 6 hours) for the best flower production and strong stems. They tolerate light afternoon shade in very hot inland areas but may flop in too much shade .

Soil: Thrives in well-drained, sandy or loamy soil. They prefer neutral to slightly acidic soil and are tolerant of poor, low-nitrogen soils because they fix their own nitrogen .

Tip: Do not use rich, nitrogen-heavy fertilizers, as this promotes leafy growth at the expense of flowers and can cause the plants to become leggy .

Watering: Keep soil moist while seedlings are establishing. Once established, they are drought tolerant but will flower best with regular watering during dry spells. Avoid waterlogged soil .

Spacing: Space plants 20–30cm apart to allow for bushy growth and good air circulation.
Heat Sensitivity: This is an annual that dies in the heat. In QLD, it will not survive the summer. It is strictly a winter/spring crop.

Root Rot: They cannot tolerate waterlogged soil. In heavy clay areas of QLD, plant in raised beds or amend soil heavily with sand and gypsum.

Powdery Mildew: Can occur in cool, damp conditions with poor airflow.

Solution: Ensure good spacing and avoid watering the leaves. Remove affected foliage immediately.

Slugs and Snails: Seedlings are very attractive to slugs and snails.

Solution: Use organic slug pellets or beer traps around young plants.

Lupin - Hartweggii Mix Seed

🛠 How to Sow & Care

🌞 Best Sowing Times in QLD

🌱 Planting & Growing Conditions

⚠️ Key Challenges in Queensland