Delphinium hansenii subsp. kernense

Kern county larkspur, Kern County Larkspur

Family: Ranunculaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Kern county larkspur is a California native perennial found in southern Sierra Nevada, Tehachapi Mountains, and western edge of the Mojave Desert in open oak woodland and chaparral at elevations of 800 to 1,900 meters. Flowering from April to May, this plant produces white to dark blue-purple flowers with sepals 7 to 13 millimeters long and a distinctive spur 8 to 16 millimeters in length. Growing with stems 34 to 110 centimeters tall that have a puberulent base, it develops sparse cauline leaves, typically no more than two per stem. Its basal leaves are usually dry by flowering time, creating a distinctive sparse foliage structure. The plant's intricate flower structure, with its contrasting white to dark blue-purple sepals, makes it a notable species in its native woodland habitats.

Habitat: Open oak woodland, chaparral

Bloom period: Apr-May

Elevation: 800-1900 m

Bioregions: s SN, Teh, w edge DMoj.

California counties: Kern, Tulare, San Bernardino

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