Aconitum columbianum
Columbian monkshood
(c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Ranunculaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Aconitum columbianum (Columbian monkshood) is a native California herb in the Ranunculaceae family, recognized by Only *Aconitum* in CA; hood- (helmet-) shaped blue-purple upper sepal.
Columbian monkshood is a California native perennial found in mountain and foothill regions in moist meadows, streambanks, and conifer forests at elevations of 600 to 3,000 meters. Flowering from July to September, this plant produces distinctive deep blue-purple to white flowers with an unusual helmet-shaped upper sepal 10 to 22 millimeters tall. Growing with erect stems 30 to 150 centimeters tall that may become reclining or twining at higher points, it develops a robust and graceful form. Its large leaves, typically 5 to 15 centimeters wide, are deeply divided into 3 to 5 wedge-shaped segments with irregular teeth or lobes toward the leaf tips. The plant produces glabrous to slightly hairy fruit clusters in an open, spreading arrangement.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Only *Aconitum* in CA; hood- (helmet-) shaped blue-purple upper sepal
Habitat and range
California counties: Mono, Mariposa, Inyo, Fresno, Tulare, Trinity, Nevada, Humboldt, Siskiyou, Kern, Butte, Madera, Plumas, Alpine, Modoc, El Dorado, Stanislaus, Placer, Sierra, Lake, Lassen, Tehama, Shasta, Amador, Del Norte, Tuolumne, Colusa, Calaveras, San Mateo
How to tell it apart
vs Delphinium: Aconitum's top sepal forms a closed hood hiding stamens; Delphinium's top sepal extends into an open spur with visible stamens.; vs Consolida: Aconitum has a completely enclosed hood-shaped top sepal; Consolida has an open backward-pointing spur.
Frequently asked questions
Is Aconitum columbianum native to California?
Yes. Aconitum columbianum is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Aconitum columbianum grow?
Aconitum columbianum occurs in Mono, Mariposa, Inyo, Fresno, Tulare, Trinity, Nevada, Humboldt and other counties.
What plant family does Aconitum columbianum belong to?
Aconitum columbianum is in the Ranunculaceae family, genus Aconitum.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.