Delphinium parryi subsp. maritimum
Maritime larkspur, Maritime Larkspur
Photo: parent species Delphinium parryi · no rights reserved · CC0
Family: Ranunculaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Delphinium parryi subsp. maritimum (Maritime larkspur) is a native California herb in the Ranunculaceae family, recognized by coastal habitat with spreading sepals and broad lobes.
Maritime larkspur is a California native perennial found in coastal bioregions including central Coast, southern Coast, and Channel Islands in coastal chaparral at elevations below 300 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces blue to purple flowers with distinctive spreading sepals 9 to 20 millimeters long and a curved spur 8 to 21 millimeters long. Growing with slender stems up to 50 centimeters tall, it develops from a compact root system less than 10 centimeters deep. Its basal leaves have 5 to 10 distinctive lobes, each generally wider than 6 millimeters, creating a delicate, intricate foliage pattern. The lower petal blades measure 4 to 11 millimeters, contributing to its elegant, asymmetrical floral structure.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 14 sympatric species; coastal habitat with spreading sepals and broad lobes
Habitat and range
Habitat: Coastal chaparral
Elevation: < 300 m
California counties: Ventura, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Monterey, San Diego, Riverside, San Luis Obispo, San Bernardino, San Benito, Stanislaus
Outside California: northern Baja California
Bloom period
Delphinium parryi subsp. maritimum blooms Mar-May.
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 subsp. maritimum native to California?
Yes. Delphinium parryi subsp. maritimum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Delphinium parryi subsp. maritimum bloom?
Delphinium parryi subsp. maritimum blooms Mar-May.
Where in California does Delphinium parryi subsp. maritimum grow?
Delphinium parryi subsp. maritimum occurs in Ventura, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Monterey, San Diego, Riverside, San Luis Obispo, San Bernardino and other counties, at elevations of < 300 m.
What plant family does Delphinium parryi subsp. maritimum belong to?
Delphinium parryi subsp. maritimum is in the Ranunculaceae family, genus Delphinium.
What habitat does Delphinium parryi subsp. maritimum grow in?
Delphinium parryi subsp. maritimum grows in Coastal chaparral.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
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.