It is a rare variety of the generally common species L. latifolius, which is a member of the bean family.

This plant enjoys mesic conditions, and lives in wet, shady to open, sunny clay banks along streams and on the margins of meadows, within higher elevation conifer woodlands.

Established plants are probably resistant to fire-induced mortality because of perennating buds on the deep, lateral root system.

The current body of research provides no clear direction for using fire as a management tool for broadleaf lupine populations.

"[9] This plant most closely resembles other varieties of L. latifolius, and could potentially be confused for L. polyphyllus var.