Lupinus lepidus is a small hairy perennial that reaches 10 to 61 centimetres (4 to 24 inches).

[3] The inflorescence is a dense spike-like raceme, with pink, purple, or blue flowers that often have a yellowish spot.

[3] The plant blooms from mid-April through August, depending on elevation and habitat.

Although rare in British Columbia, its range extends south from Alaska to southern California and eastward to the Rocky Mountains.

[7][4][5] In California, it is mainly a species of meadows and areas that are moist during the spring growing season in the Sierra Nevada mountain range, from 1,500 to 3,000 metres (4,900 to 9,800 ft).