Delphinium parryi
San bernardino larkspur
no rights reserved · CC0
Family: Ranunculaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Delphinium parryi (San bernardino larkspur) is a native California herb in the Ranunculaceae family.
San bernardino larkspur is a California native perennial found in southern California mountain ranges in rocky, open habitats at elevations between 1,000 to 2,500 meters. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces deep blue to purple flowers with distinctive reflexed sepals and a long curved spur. Growing with slender stems 15 to 80 centimeters tall, often with curly hairs at the base, it develops a complex root system occasionally exceeding 10 centimeters deep. Its delicate leaves are finely divided into 5 to 27 narrow lobes, each less than 6 millimeters wide, with a softly hairy texture. The fruit is an elongated capsule 10 to 19 millimeters long, containing slightly bumpy, winged seeds.
Habitat and range
California counties: San Luis Obispo, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Orange, San Benito, Riverside, Santa Barbara, San Diego, Monterey, Ventura, Inyo, Fresno, Merced, Kern, Stanislaus, Tulare
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 parryi native to California?
Yes. Delphinium parryi is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Delphinium parryi grow?
Delphinium parryi occurs in San Luis Obispo, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Orange, San Benito, Riverside, Santa Barbara, San Diego and other counties.
What plant family does Delphinium parryi belong to?
Delphinium parryi is in the Ranunculaceae family, genus Delphinium.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Delphinium parryi subsp. blochmaniae — Dune larkspur
- Delphinium parryi subsp. eastwoodiae — Eastwood's larkspur
- Delphinium parryi subsp. maritimum — Maritime larkspur
- Delphinium parryi subsp. parryi — Parry's larkspur
- Delphinium parryi subsp. purpureum — Mount pinos larkspur
- Delphinium patens — Spreading or zigzag 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.