Delphinium inopinum

Unexpected larkspur

Family: Ranunculaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 4.3

Unexpected larkspur is a California native perennial ranked 4.3 by CNPS, found in the southern Sierra Nevada Mountains in open conifer forest and rocky areas at elevations of 2,200 to 2,800 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces white to blue flowers with forward-pointing sepals and intricate petal structures. Growing with multiple stems 1 to 1.4 meters tall that are glaucous and glabrous, it emerges from a deep, branching root system with apparent rootstock buds. Its leaves are primarily concentrated on the lower fifth of the stem, featuring 3 to 9 lobes ranging from 5 to 28 millimeters wide on basal leaves. The plant produces fruits 12 to 20 millimeters long with smooth, winged seeds.

Habitat: Open conifer forest, rock outcrops

Bloom period: Jun-Aug

Elevation: 2200-2800 m

Bioregions: s SNH.

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