Delphinium hansenii subsp. hansenii
Hansen's larkspur, Hansen's Larkspur
Photo: parent species Delphinium hansenii · (c) Justin, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Ranunculaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Delphinium hansenii subsp. hansenii (Hansen's larkspur) is a native California herb in the Ranunculaceae family, recognized by lack of basal leaves and closely-spaced flowers.
Hansen's larkspur is a California native perennial found in northern Coast Ranges, California Rockies, Sierra Nevada Foothills, central and southern Sierra Nevada, Sacramento Valley, and eastern San Francisco Bay Area in oak woodland at elevations of 150 to 3,000 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces dark blue-purple to white or pink flowers with sepals 7 to 13 millimeters long and a distinctive spur 8 to 13 millimeters in length. Growing with erect stems 40 to 180 centimeters tall, the base is generally puberulent to hairy. Its leaves are unusual, with basal leaves typically absent during flowering. The plant's striking color variation and tall, slender form make it a distinctive inhabitant of California's oak woodlands.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 24 sympatric species; distinguished by lack of basal leaves and closely-spaced flowers
Habitat and range
Habitat: Oak woodland
Elevation: 150-3000 m
California counties: Butte, Kern, Mariposa, Tulare, Madera, El Dorado, Placer, Sutter, Lake, Tuolumne, Contra Costa, Yolo, Fresno, Stanislaus, Amador, Calaveras, Sacramento, Solano, Yuba, Merced, Napa
Bloom period
Delphinium hansenii subsp. hansenii blooms May-Jul.
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 hansenii subsp. hansenii native to California?
Yes. Delphinium hansenii subsp. hansenii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Delphinium hansenii subsp. hansenii bloom?
Delphinium hansenii subsp. hansenii blooms May-Jul.
Where in California does Delphinium hansenii subsp. hansenii grow?
Delphinium hansenii subsp. hansenii occurs in Butte, Kern, Mariposa, Tulare, Madera, El Dorado, Placer, Sutter and other counties, at elevations of 150-3000 m.
What plant family does Delphinium hansenii subsp. hansenii belong to?
Delphinium hansenii subsp. hansenii is in the Ranunculaceae family, genus Delphinium.
What habitat does Delphinium hansenii subsp. hansenii grow in?
Delphinium hansenii subsp. hansenii grows in Oak woodland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Delphinium hansenii subsp. kernense — Kern county larkspur
- Delphinium hesperium — Foothill larkspur
- Delphinium hesperium subsp. cuyamacae — Cuyamaca larkspur
- Delphinium hesperium subsp. hesperium — Western larkspur
- Delphinium hesperium subsp. pallescens — Pale-flowered western larkspur
- Delphinium hutchinsoniae — Hutchinson's 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.