Kitchen Garden Forum

I know lupin seeds are poisonous to humans but are they edible for goldfinches? Can't find the relevant answer on internet which will guide how I dispose of my seed pods which have just finished flowering.

I don't have a definitive answer to your question, Primrose, but I have never seen goldfinches feeding on our lupin seeds. Teasels, lavender, dandelions, yes, but never on lupins. And are lupin seeds not used to make oil for human consumption?

There is an edible version of sweet lupin (RealSeeds has them) but the flowering ones we all love, are not for human consumption. I have never seen the goldfiches eat them either (and we have so many of them!). I just put my deadheaded tops in the compost, no problems after all these years. Same thing I do with rhubarb leaves - never eat those, either.

Goldfinches eat much smaller seeds than those in Lupins, the Nyger seed we buy from the shops is the sort of thing they like.

I can vouch for that tigerburnie! My seed bill for niger seed says it all...

They will even come down to the lawn and eat the dandelion seeds right off the plant!

Ooh, your are well trained. Mine like the lavender hedge but I've not seen them tidy up the dandelions yet!