Delphinium patens

Spreading or zigzag larkspur, Zigzag Larkspur

Family: Ranunculaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Spreading larkspur is a California native perennial found in various bioregions in coastal scrub, chaparral, and woodland habitats. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces bright or dark blue flowers with reflexed sepals that stand out against its green foliage. Growing with stems 30 to 100 centimeters tall, it has a base narrower than its root system and develops leaves primarily on the lower third of the stem. Its leaves feature a terminal lobe that is widest near the middle, with a generally glabrous (smooth) surface. The fruit is slightly curved and measures 12 to 23 millimeters long, with smooth, shiny seeds featuring an inflated collar.

California counties: Tulare, Napa, Monterey, Lake, Calaveras, Contra Costa, Colusa, Santa Clara, El Dorado, Fresno, Riverside, Shasta, Butte, San Benito, Sonoma, San Mateo, Marin, Plumas, Tehama, Sutter, Placer, Glenn, Alameda, Los Angeles, Solano, Stanislaus, Trinity, Yuba, Kern, Orange, Santa Barbara, San Bernardino, Ventura, Tuolumne, Mariposa, Sierra, Santa Cruz, Merced, Madera, Alpine, San Joaquin, Humboldt, Nevada, Yolo, Amador, Sacramento, San Francisco

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