Delphinium gracilentum
Slender or greene's larkspur, Slender Or Greene's Larkspur
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Ranunculaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Delphinium gracilentum (Slender or greene's larkspur) is a native California herb in the Ranunculaceae family, recognized by reflexed petals and pale flower colors.
Slender larkspur is a California native perennial found in southern Klamath Ranges, southern Cascade Range, and Sierra Nevada in conifer forest at elevations of 150 to 2,700 meters. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces pale blue to white or pink flowers with curved sepals and distinctive lateral sepals 7 to 13 millimeters long. Growing with slender stems 15 to 50 centimeters tall, it has a root system that is somewhat spheric or loose-fibrous. Its leaves are primarily located on the lower third of the stem, with five lobes generally wider than 6 millimeters and rounded at the tips, the terminal lobe widest towards its end. Its curved fruits are 8 to 16 millimeters long, with seeds that are generally bumpy and have an inflated collar.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 28 sympatric species; distinguished by reflexed petals and pale flower colors
Habitat and range
Habitat: Conifer forest
Elevation: 150-2700 m
California counties: Fresno, Mariposa, Kern, Tulare, Madera, Calaveras, Placer, El Dorado, Nevada, Butte, Plumas, Tuolumne, Ventura, Alpine, Sutter, Amador, Humboldt, Inyo, Monterey, Sacramento, Yuba, Alameda, Sierra, Shasta, Los Angeles, Mono, Lake
Bloom period
Delphinium gracilentum blooms Mar-Jun.
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 gracilentum native to California?
Yes. Delphinium gracilentum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Delphinium gracilentum bloom?
Delphinium gracilentum blooms Mar-Jun.
Where in California does Delphinium gracilentum grow?
Delphinium gracilentum occurs in Fresno, Mariposa, Kern, Tulare, Madera, Calaveras, Placer, El Dorado and other counties, at elevations of 150-2700 m.
What plant family does Delphinium gracilentum belong to?
Delphinium gracilentum is in the Ranunculaceae family, genus Delphinium.
What habitat does Delphinium gracilentum grow in?
Delphinium gracilentum grows in Conifer forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Delphinium gypsophilum — Gypsum-loving larkspur
- Delphinium gypsophilum ssp. parviflorum — Small-flowered Gypsum-loving Larkspur
- Delphinium hansenii — Eldorado larkspur
- Delphinium hansenii subsp. ewanianum — Ewan's larkspur
- Delphinium hansenii subsp. hansenii — Hansen's larkspur
- Delphinium hansenii subsp. kernense — Kern county larkspur
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.