Lupines are not suited to the Midwest. Our summers are too hot and humid for them. If you can get one or two years out of them, that's about the best you can hope for.

I'd encourage you to try Baptisia. They are very easy to grow and long lived. The flowers are very similar to Lupines. The species are very garden worthy, but the new hybrids that are coming out bring a larger range of colors to the genus.

My present garden is too shady, so I don't grow them anymore, but from a previous garden, I can tell you: They like loose, acid soil with good drainage, but plenty of moisture in summer, drier in winter (I grew them in a raised bed with sandy, peaty soil, watered in the summer). You'll have best success with "wild" lupines (Lupinus perennis), with the basic blue color being the most persistent. Even so, they'll probably last three years, so collect seed.
Don

When I planted mine. Lady said would only last couple years. But easy to winter-sow so will have more for next year. So that is what I do.

thanks for the tips, I saw Texas bluebonnets seed in WalMart the other day and will try them...also will try and save seed.