Altramuz Perenne

How to grow Altramuz Perenne

Written by the GardenDecoded editorial team · Last reviewed 21 July 2026 · Written for UK gardens · How we research our guidance

Planting

Plant in autumn or spring in a sunny spot with reasonable drainage; they are poor on thin chalk. Give them shelter from wind, as the tall spikes catch it. Being legumes they fix their own nitrogen and do not need feeding.

Pruning

Cut the main spike off as soon as it fades, before seed sets, and a smaller second flush usually follows in late summer. Cut the whole plant to the ground in autumn.

Propagation

Take basal cuttings in spring, cutting shoots with a sliver of the crown attached. Seed germinates well after soaking or chipping but seedlings of named plants vary widely in colour.

Pests and diseases

Slugs and snails destroy young plants and new spring growth and are the main obstacle to establishing them. Lupin aphid, a large grey aphid, can build up quickly on the flower spikes and needs dealing with early.

Value to wildlife

Bumblebees work the flowers heavily; they are strong enough to open the keel of each floret, which smaller bees are not.

Notes

Most plants are good for three or four years and then decline, so raise replacements rather than trying to nurse an old clump. The seeds are widely reported as harmful if eaten — check the plant's toxicity before planting it where children or pets have access.

This guidance was researched and written by GardenDecoded — see our editorial policy for how guides are checked and reviewed.

Other names for this plant

These names have all been used for Lupinus polyphyllus but are no longer the accepted name. You may still meet them on old labels, in books, or in nursery catalogues.

Others in Lupinus