Delphinium patens subsp. montanum

Family: Ranunculaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Mountain larkspur is a California native perennial found in southern Sierra Nevada, southern South Coast Ranges, Transverse Ranges, and Peninsular Ranges in open conifer forest on drier, eastern mountain slopes at elevations of 1,500 to 2,800 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces blue to purple flowers with delicate, intricate sepals and a distinctive spur 8 to 14 millimeters long. Growing with slender stems 30 to 70 centimeters tall, it develops stems with finely divided leaves segmented into 5 to 10 narrow lobes. Its cauline leaves are extensively divided, with each lobe less than 10 millimeters wide, creating a delicate, lacy appearance. The flower's lower petal blades measure 3 to 6 millimeters, nestled among glandular, softly puberulent pedicels.

Habitat: Open conifer forest, drier, eastern sides of mountain ranges

Bloom period: Apr-Jun

Elevation: 1500-2800 m

Bioregions: s SNH, s SCoRI, TR, PR.

California counties: Los Angeles, Kern, San Bernardino, Ventura, San Diego, Riverside, Santa Barbara, Tulare, San Luis Obispo, Santa Clara, Fresno

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