Delphinium polycladon
High mountain larkspur
(c) Martin Purdy, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Ranunculaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Delphinium polycladon (High mountain larkspur) is a native California herb in the Ranunculaceae family, recognized by very high elevation wet habitat with tall multiple stems and one-sided inflorescences.
High mountain larkspur is a California native perennial found in the Sierra Nevada and White and Inyo Mountains along stream-banks and wet talus slopes at elevations of 2,200 to 3,600 meters. Flowering from July to September, this plant produces deep blue to purple flowers with distinctive spurs 11 to 22 millimeters long. Growing with multiple robust stems 80 to 120 centimeters tall that are completely glabrous, it emerges from a prominent root system over 15 centimeters deep. Its leaves are concentrated on the lower third of the stem, with broad lobes more than 6 millimeters wide and a glabrous surface. Each plant can produce clusters of 3 to 35 flowers with lateral sepals 12 to 18 millimeters long, creating striking displays in high mountain habitats.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 12 sympatric species; very high elevation wet habitat with tall multiple stems and one-sided inflorescences
Habitat and range
Habitat: Stream-banks, wet talus
Elevation: 2200-3600 m
California counties: Fresno, Mono, Humboldt, Tulare, Inyo, Tuolumne, Mariposa, Alpine, El Dorado, Madera, Kern, Plumas
Bloom period
Delphinium polycladon blooms Jul-Sep.
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 polycladon native to California?
Yes. Delphinium polycladon is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Delphinium polycladon bloom?
Delphinium polycladon blooms Jul-Sep.
Where in California does Delphinium polycladon grow?
Delphinium polycladon occurs in Fresno, Mono, Humboldt, Tulare, Inyo, Tuolumne, Mariposa, Alpine and other counties, at elevations of 2200-3600 m.
What plant family does Delphinium polycladon belong to?
Delphinium polycladon is in the Ranunculaceae family, genus Delphinium.
What habitat does Delphinium polycladon grow in?
Delphinium polycladon grows in Stream-banks, wet talus.
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.