This is a plant I've always wanted, though have yet to acquire it. Morina longifolia, however, grew here happily for years. It finally succumbed to ants when they attempted to build a colony underneath it.
I will replace it one day when I get seed - I really liked that plant.

Tricky on alkaline soil...but if lupine does well for you, aciphyllas should. Interesting genus.

Thanks Ninamarie. Morinas do ok this far south during cool-to-normal summers, but they seem to never really build up enough strength to get through the hot summers. (I'm in Maryland) Since the last three summers have been very hot (fingers crossed this one will turn out differently...looks promising so far) the plant I had for years finally gave up the ghost last summer. It also doesn't help that rabbits will ignore it for a couple years then randomly mow the whole plant down one night. That happened the year before last, so, between that and a 3rd hot summer, it was just too much for it.