Baiting with New Zealand blue lupins (Lupinus angustifolius) was a useful method for recovering Phytophthora citmamomi from soil in native forests in Australia. Symptoms induced by various Phytophthora spp. on lupins were compared. P. cinnamomi and P. dreschleri infections appeared similar but could be distinguished from those of P. cactorum, P. citricola, P. cambivora, P. citrophthora, P. cryptogea, P. megasperma var. sojae, P. nicotianae var. nicotianae, P. nicotianae var. parasitica and P. syringae. P. cinnamomi and P. dreschleri could be separated by sporangial characters. A rapid method of identifying P. cinnamomi directly on lupin roots was developed. Soil and roots were baited with lupins for 5–7 days and examined microscopically. Sporangia of P. cinnamomi usually developed on lupin roots after 3 days and were sufficiently distinctive for positive identification. Plating of roots on agar and subsequent culturing of fungi for identification could be used as an adjunct.