Delphinium parryi subsp. blochmaniae

Dune larkspur, Dune Larkspur

Family: Ranunculaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2

Dune larkspur is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native perennial found in southern coastal California, including Santa Cruz and Santa Clara counties, in coastal chaparral and sandy habitats at elevations below 200 meters. Flowering from April to May, this plant produces lavender to deep purple flowers with pale lower petal blades and distinctively reflexed sepals. Growing with short stems emerging from a compact root less than 10 centimeters long, it develops delicate leaves with 5 to 15 distinctive lobes. Its leaf structure is particularly notable, with basal leaves often absent during flowering, creating a distinctive sparse appearance. The flower's spur measures 11 to 16 millimeters long, with lateral sepals 16 to 25 millimeters, giving the plant an elegant, graceful profile.

Habitat: Coastal chaparral, sand

Bloom period: Apr-May

Elevation: < 200 m

Bioregions: s CCo, SCo.

California counties: Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, Ventura, Kern

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