Delphinium recurvatum
Recurved larkspur, Recurved Larkspur
(c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Ranunculaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Delphinium recurvatum (Recurved larkspur) is a native California herb in the Ranunculaceae family, recognized by alkaline grassland habitat with white lower petals and predominantly basal leaves.
Recurved larkspur is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native perennial found in the San Joaquin Valley, southern Coast Ranges, and western Mojave Desert in grasslands with poorly drained, alkaline soils at elevations of 30 to 600 meters. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces light blue flowers with white lower petals, with sepals generally reflexed, creating a distinctive hanging appearance. Growing 18 to 60 centimeters tall with stems glabrous and base narrower than the root, it develops a firmly attached root system over 15 centimeters long. Its leaves feature 3 to 11 lobes, with basal leaves significantly more prominent than stem leaves. The plant produces small fruits 8 to 21 millimeters long with seeds featuring distinctively wavy-margined coat cells.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 20 sympatric species; alkaline grassland habitat with white lower petals and predominantly basal leaves
Habitat and range
Habitat: Poorly drained, fine, alkaline soils in grassland,
Elevation: 30-600 m
California counties: Fresno, San Luis Obispo, Contra Costa, Kern, Merced, Solano, Kings, Tulare, Glenn, Colusa, Sutter, Madera, San Joaquin, Butte, Monterey, San Benito
Bloom period
Delphinium recurvatum blooms Mar-Jun.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.2
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 recurvatum native to California?
Yes. Delphinium recurvatum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Delphinium recurvatum bloom?
Delphinium recurvatum blooms Mar-Jun.
Where in California does Delphinium recurvatum grow?
Delphinium recurvatum occurs in Fresno, San Luis Obispo, Contra Costa, Kern, Merced, Solano, Kings, Tulare and other counties, at elevations of 30-600 m.
What plant family does Delphinium recurvatum belong to?
Delphinium recurvatum is in the Ranunculaceae family, genus Delphinium.
Is Delphinium recurvatum rare or endangered?
Delphinium recurvatum carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S2.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.