Delphinium variegatum subsp. thornei

Thorne's royal larkspur, Thorne's Royal Larkspur

Family: Ranunculaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1

Thorne's royal larkspur is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native perennial found on San Clemente Island in grassland and oak woodland habitats on slopes of 15 to 35 degrees at elevations below 500 meters. Flowering from February to May, this plant produces bright blue flowers with lateral sepals 17 to 21 millimeters long and distinctive lower petal blades 6 to 11 millimeters in size. Growing with an inflorescence featuring fewer than 12 flowers on its main axis, it develops an upright structural form characteristic of larkspur species. Its flowers showcase a vivid blue coloration, with sepals and petals creating a striking visual display against the plant's underlying vegetation. The species is notable for its limited distribution on San Clemente Island, making it a unique and localized member of California's native flora.

Habitat: Grassland, oak woodland, 15--35° slopes

Bloom period: Feb-May

Elevation: < 500 m

Bioregions: s ChI (San Clemente Island).

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