Delphinium hesperium subsp. cuyamacae

Cuyamaca larkspur, Cuyamaca Larkspur

Family: Ranunculaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2

Cuyamaca larkspur is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native perennial found in central Peninsular Ranges in grassland and yellow-pine forest at elevations around 1,500 meters. Flowering from June to July, this plant produces dark blue-purple flowers with lateral sepals 7 to 10 millimeters long and a distinctive spur 8 to 12 millimeters in length. Growing with stems that have a puberulent base, the larkspur develops clusters with more than 25 flowers in dense inflorescences. Its lower petal blades are small, measuring 3 to 5 millimeters, with pedicels typically placed less than 8 millimeters apart. The spreading-forward-pointing sepals create a distinctive architectural shape that distinguishes this rare subspecies in its montane habitats.

Habitat: Grassland, yellow-pine forest

Bloom period: Jun-Jul

Elevation: +- 1500 m.

Bioregions: c PR.

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