Lupinus Hillii, Hill's Lupine

Lupinus hillii is a fairly uncommon plant, most abundant in north and central Arizona, especially in the pine forests around Flagstaff and Sedona. Flowers are numerous, relatively small (around a quarter of an inch long), and closely-spaced, occupying about a third of the height of the stem, which, like the leaves and bracts, has a fine to moderately dense hair covering. Leaves are most hairy along the edges, at the tip and on the undersurface.

All petals are bluish purple in color, while the banner has a reddish-purple patch in the center. Flowers are supported by prominent green bracts, whose tips tend to curve outwards while the flowers are still in bud, and so are clearly visible towards the top of the inflorescence. Flowers are borne on short pedicels, and often have a whorled arrangement.