Silvery lupine is found in grasslands, ponderosa pine woodlands, on rocky prairie hillsides and on subalpine ridges. The species is distributed from east-central Oregon to northern California and east to South Dakota and the Rocky Mountain states to New Mexico. It is common in the Great Basin and Great Plains but is rare in Saskatchewan and Kansas. 

Blue, 3/4" pea-flowers, whorled in conical clusters.

Silvery-hairy leaves, stems, sepals, and seedpods.

Stems are often purplish-red.

Compound leaves