Lupinus Gallery Red

Description and Characteristics

Lupinus 'Gallery Red' is a compact, eye-catching cultivar from the highly regarded Gallery Series—a group of dwarf lupins bred for early blooming, reduced height, and dense flower spikes. This variety showcases bold, upright spires of deep crimson to ruby-red pea-like flowers, offering vivid contrast against its lush, palmate green foliage.

Unlike taller lupin hybrids, ‘Gallery Red’ grows to a manageable height of 50–60 cm and a spread of 40–50 cm, making it perfect for small gardens, mid-border displays, or container use. It blooms from late spring into early summer, with the potential for a second flush in late summer if deadheaded promptly.

This selection not only adds strong vertical colour to the garden but also supports biodiversity, attracting bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.

• Bold red flower spikes on compact stems

• Dense clumps of divided green foliage

• Height: 50–60 cm; Spread: 40–50 cm

• Flowering time: May to June, with possible repeat bloom in August

• Ideal for cottage gardens, wildlife borders, and small-space planting

• Excellent pollinator-friendly perennial

Growing Conditions and Maintenance

Lupinus 'Gallery Red' is easy to grow in sunny locations with well-drained soil. It benefits from regular deadheading, light feeding, and proper siting to avoid wet roots or poor air circulation.

• Light Requirements:

  • Prefers full sun (at least 6 hours/day)

  • Tolerates light partial shade, especially in hot summer climates

• Soil Preferences:

  • Grows best in well-drained, slightly acidic to neutral soils

  • Avoid heavy clay or alkaline soils unless well-amended

  • Improve sandy or poor soils with compost before planting

• Watering Needs:

  • Water regularly during dry spells, especially in the first growing season

  • Established plants are moderately drought-tolerant

  • Avoid overwatering or allowing roots to sit in saturated soil

• Feeding:

  • Apply a balanced fertiliser (low nitrogen) in spring to encourage flowering

  • Overfeeding with nitrogen can reduce flower output and increase leafy growth

• Deadheading and Pruning:

  • Remove spent flower spikes as soon as they fade to promote reblooming

  • Cut flowering stems back to the base when finished

  • Leave foliage intact through summer; cut down in autumn after die-back

• Support Needs:

  • Due to compact growth, staking is rarely necessary

  • In windy sites, planting in groups provides natural support

Garden Design, Companions, and Pollinator Value

‘Gallery Red’ is a vibrant structural plant perfect for adding vertical colour, especially in mixed planting schemes. Its uniform growth and rich red tone make it a standout in modern, traditional, or wildlife-friendly gardens.

• Design Uses:

  • Great for mid-border planting, raised beds, containers, and mixed perennial schemes

  • Suitable for repetition in drifts or colour-themed borders

  • A natural fit in cottage garden and pollinator-friendly layouts

• Companion Plants:

  • Combine with other Gallery Series lupins (Blue, Yellow, White) for a rainbow effect

  • Mix with delphiniums, salvias, achillea, geums, and catmint (Nepeta)

  • Complements silver foliage plants such as artemisia or stachys

• Pollinator Support:

  • High nectar and pollen value for bees, bumblebees, and butterflies

  • Early-summer blooming provides critical forage during the pollinator gap

• Propagation and Longevity:

  • Lifespan: typically 3–5 years

  • Propagate by seed (note: may not come true to type) or basal cuttings in early spring

  • Mulch lightly in autumn and divide every few years to rejuvenate

• Pest and Disease Tips:

  • Susceptible to aphids, especially lupin aphid

  • Watch for slugs and snails in spring

  • Provide airflow to prevent mildew and leaf spot

• Size
  2L

We currently only deliver within the island of Ireland, other countries can be quoted for by contacting [email protected] or via telephone on 06964084
 

Standard Delivery is FREE on orders over €250*

All standard deliveries will be completed within 5-7 working days via Fastway Couriers, any delay to this delivery time, the customer will be notified by One of our staff.

The in-Store delivery charge will vary compared with online, in-store delivery charge is done on a case by case basis. 

* Only mainland Ireland addresses qualify for free delivery.
 

Live Plants Delivery

Our live plants are packed with care and diligence by our staff, our horticulturists review each plant before despatch to ensure quality is maintained.
Live Plant delivery charges are not calculated on weight but on the space required per package to ensure safe delivery, so delivery charges may vary as some plants require more space than others when packed.
All live plants are despatched within 3-5 working days where possible, our couriers aim to deliver within 48 hours of despatch from our Garden Centre to allow the plant to arrive in healthy condition.
 

Click & Collect

Can’t wait for delivery? Why not try our FREE Click & Collect service? Simply make your purchase online and collect it from our store located in Croagh Co. Limerick. Our staff will contact you by phone when your order is ready for collection (Please allow 24 hours minimum). When collecting your item, call the store on 069-64084. We will then load into your car as required. This service is available in-store 9am – 6pm Monday – Saturday (No collections on Sundays)

Click here for more information about our shipping conditions.

You can pay your online order either by credit card or via Paypal.
If you have any further questions about the online order payment please contact us via ­069 640 84 or mail.