Subalpine lupine at Mount Rainier

Lupinus latifolius

Subalpine lupine usually blooms from late April to early September at Mount Rainier, with the best color from mid-July into early August.

late April – early September Best: mid-July into early August In bloom now

The bloom is underway and past its best weeks — still worth it, but don't wait long. Reports are coming in early this year.

Based on reports from iNaturalist naturalists. 191 flowering reports from Washington shape this curve. The shaded band marks the best weeks; the dashed line is this week.

Where to see them

The purple in every famous Rainier meadow photo. Peak lupine at Paradise is arguably the best wildflower show in the country — and the most crowded; go on a weekday if you can.

Mount Rainier National Park (Paradise meadows, Skyline Trail)

We name public reserves, parks, and roads only — never exact pins, never private land.

Nearby on the calendar

Avalanche lilies at Mount Rainier — best late June into late July

Updated August 14, 2026. Bloom timing varies with the year's weather — the curve shows the usual rhythm, and in-season updates sharpen it.