I do not think there is a more stereotypical cottage garden plant than the lupin. The varieties seem almost infinite. They've got amazing flower spikes which bloom in late spring/ early summer from the top of a mound of foliage. They've got distinctive and fairly unusual shaped leaves too which add contrast to any border.It's a real shame that this plant (along with hostas and hollyhocks) is slug's and snail's favourite dish. Use as many slug deterrents as you dare and be vigilant - hunt them down.
They do best in sunny-ish sites but will tolerate some shade. They will grow in most soils but like moist roots, so apply a mulch round the base. They can be propagated by seed easily but flowers take two growing seasons to come. The easiest way to propagate is to dig up a mature plant in early spring and slice the fleshy root in half/ quarters with a knife and replant them - make sure there's shoots on each root cutting.
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