Delphinium parishii
Desert larkspur
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Ranunculaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Delphinium parishii (Desert larkspur) is a native California herb in the Ranunculaceae family.
Desert larkspur is a California native perennial found in desert mountain ranges of southern California in rocky slopes and desert scrub at elevations of 600 to 1,800 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces deep blue to purple flowers with distinctive spurred petals arranged in compact clusters. Growing 15 to 45 centimeters tall with erect stems that are glabrous to slightly hairy, it emerges from a branched root system deeper than 15 centimeters. Its leaves are finely divided with narrow lobes less than 6 millimeters wide, creating a delicate, lacy appearance. The plant produces small fruits no longer than three times their width, with seeds featuring wavy cell margins.
Habitat and range
California counties: San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Kern, Riverside, Inyo, Santa Barbara, Mono, Madera, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, Imperial, San Diego, Ventura, Merced, Fresno, Nevada
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 parishii native to California?
Yes. Delphinium parishii is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Delphinium parishii grow?
Delphinium parishii occurs in San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Kern, Riverside, Inyo, Santa Barbara, Mono, Madera and other counties.
What plant family does Delphinium parishii belong to?
Delphinium parishii is in the Ranunculaceae family, genus Delphinium.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Delphinium parishii subsp. pallidum — Pale-flowered parish's larkspur
- Delphinium parishii subsp. parishii — Parish's
- Delphinium parishii subsp. subglobosum — Colorado desert larkspur
- Delphinium parryi — San bernardino larkspur
- Delphinium parryi subsp. blochmaniae — Dune larkspur
- Delphinium parryi subsp. eastwoodiae — Eastwood'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.