Delphinium umbraculorum
Umbrella larkspur
(c) George Williams, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Ranunculaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.3
Delphinium umbraculorum (Umbrella larkspur) is a native California herb in the Ranunculaceae family, recognized by moist oak forest habitat and moderate leaf lobe width.
Umbrella larkspur is a rare (CNPS 1B.3) California native perennial found in southern Coast Ranges and Transverse Ranges in moist oak forest at elevations of 400 to 1,600 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces blue to purple flowers with distinctive reflexed lateral sepals 10 to 16 millimeters long and a curved spur 11 to 14 millimeters long. Growing 40 to 85 centimeters tall with stems that are slightly narrower at the base and nearly smooth, it develops a firmly attached root system. Its leaves are divided into 3 to 10 lobes, each wider than 4 millimeters, with basal and cauline leaves appearing nearly hairless. The plant produces smooth, winged seeds in fruits 15 to 19 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 16 sympatric species; moist oak forest habitat and moderate leaf lobe width
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist oak forest
Elevation: 400-1600 m
Bloom period
Delphinium umbraculorum blooms Apr-Jun.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.3
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 umbraculorum native to California?
Yes. Delphinium umbraculorum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Delphinium umbraculorum bloom?
Delphinium umbraculorum blooms Apr-Jun.
What plant family does Delphinium umbraculorum belong to?
Delphinium umbraculorum is in the Ranunculaceae family, genus Delphinium.
Is Delphinium umbraculorum rare or endangered?
Delphinium umbraculorum carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.3, state rank S3.
What habitat does Delphinium umbraculorum grow in?
Delphinium umbraculorum grows in Moist oak forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.