Delphinium decorum
Coast larkspur
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Family: Ranunculaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Delphinium decorum (Coast larkspur) is a native California herb in the Ranunculaceae family.
Coast larkspur is a California native perennial found in coastal regions in open woodlands and grasslands at low elevations. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces dark blue-purple flowers with distinctive larkspur-shaped blossoms arranged in clusters of 2 to 20 individual flowers. Growing with slender stems 30 to 60 centimeters tall, it develops clustered roots and has a base narrower than its root system. Its leaves are primarily basal, with delicate lobes that are mostly glabrous on top and lightly hairy underneath, occasionally featuring leaf lobes wider than 6 millimeters. The fruit is slightly curved and measures 9 to 20 millimeters long, with bumpy seeds featuring an inflated collar.
Habitat and range
California counties: Humboldt, El Dorado, San Mateo, Placer, Trinity, Sonoma, Marin, Mendocino, Santa Clara, San Francisco, Madera, Los Angeles, Santa Cruz, San Benito, Alameda, Napa, Shasta, Del Norte, Tulare, San Diego, Inyo, San Bernardino, Plumas, Santa Barbara, Tuolumne, Contra Costa, Yuba, Mariposa, Monterey, Calaveras, Yolo
How to tell it apart
vs Lupinus: Delphinium has backward-pointing spurs on flowers; Lupinus has pea-family flowers with banner-wing-keel structure.; vs Geranium: Delphinium has spurred bilateral flowers; Geranium has radially symmetric 5-petaled flowers with no spur.; vs Epilobium: Delphinium has spurred flowers and palmately divided leaves; Epilobium has unspurred 4-petaled flowers and simple or opposite leaves.; vs Aquilegia: Delphinium has a single spur per flower; Aquilegia has 5 spurs radiating from the center.; vs Aconitum: Delphinium has an open spur with visible stamens; Aconitum has a closed hood hiding the stamens.
Frequently asked questions
Is Delphinium decorum native to California?
Yes. Delphinium decorum is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Delphinium decorum grow?
Delphinium decorum occurs in Humboldt, El Dorado, San Mateo, Placer, Trinity, Sonoma, Marin, Mendocino and other counties.
What plant family does Delphinium decorum belong to?
Delphinium decorum is in the Ranunculaceae family, genus Delphinium.
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.