Aconitum columbianum subsp. columbianum
(c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Ranunculaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Aconitum columbianum subsp. columbianum is a native California herb in the Ranunculaceae family, recognized by 2 sympatric subspecies; key difference is presence/absence of bulblets.
Columbia monkshood is a native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, northern eastern Sierra Nevada, and Modoc Plateau in streambanks, moist meadows, and conifer forests at elevations of 300 to 3,500 meters. Flowering from July to September, this plant produces deep blue to purple hooded flowers with multiple blooms clustered on tall stems. Growing with erect stems 30 to 200 centimeters tall, it forms robust clumps with multiple flowering stalks. Its leaves are deeply divided with broad, lobed segments, typically palmately cut into 5 to 7 distinct parts with rounded, toothed edges. The plant contains potent alkaloids, making it toxic to both humans and animals if ingested.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric subspecies; key difference is presence/absence of bulblets
Habitat and range
Habitat: Streambanks, moist areas, meadows, conifer forest
Elevation: 300-3500 m
California counties: Mono, Inyo, Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, Glenn, Kern, Lassen, Madera, Tehama, Butte, El Dorado, Fresno, Humboldt, Mariposa, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Trinity, Sierra, Siskiyou, Tulare, Tuolumne, Modoc
Outside California: to British Columbia, South Dakota, New Mexico, northern Mexico, also Iowa, Wisconsin, Ohio, New York
Bloom period
Aconitum columbianum subsp. columbianum blooms Jul-Sep.
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 subsp. columbianum native to California?
Yes. Aconitum columbianum subsp. columbianum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Aconitum columbianum subsp. columbianum bloom?
Aconitum columbianum subsp. columbianum blooms Jul-Sep.
Where in California does Aconitum columbianum subsp. columbianum grow?
Aconitum columbianum subsp. columbianum occurs in Mono, Inyo, Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, Glenn, Kern, Lassen and other counties, at elevations of 300-3500 m.
What plant family does Aconitum columbianum subsp. columbianum belong to?
Aconitum columbianum subsp. columbianum is in the Ranunculaceae family, genus Aconitum.
What habitat does Aconitum columbianum subsp. columbianum grow in?
Aconitum columbianum subsp. columbianum grows in Streambanks, moist areas, meadows, conifer forest.
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.