Aconitum columbianum subsp. viviparum

Family: Ranunculaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Columbia monkshood is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, northern California Ranges, and northern Sierra Nevada in streambanks, moist areas, meadows, and conifer forests at elevations of 900 to 2,500 meters. Flowering from July to September, this plant produces deep blue to purple flowers in distinctive hooded clusters characteristic of monkshood species. Growing with erect stems 50 to 150 centimeters tall, it forms clumps with multiple flowering stalks emerging from a robust root system. Its leaves are deeply divided into broad, palmately lobed segments, with 5 to 7 pointed leaflets arranged in a fan-like pattern. The plant contains potent alkaloids, making it toxic to both humans and animals if ingested.

Habitat: Streambanks, moist areas, meadows, conifer forest

Bloom period: Jul-Sep

Elevation: 900-2500 m

Bioregions: KR, CaR, n SNH (s Lake Tahoe)

California counties: Siskiyou, El Dorado, Trinity, Alpine, Del Norte, Humboldt, Calaveras

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.