Delphinium variegatum subsp. variegatum
Photo: parent species Delphinium variegatum · (c) Ryan Donnelly, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Ranunculaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Delphinium variegatum subsp. variegatum is a native California herb in the Ranunculaceae family, recognized by flower count and sepal color.
variegated larkspur is a California native perennial found in northern coastal, Klamath, North Coast, Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada foothills, Central Valley, San Francisco Bay Area, and southern coastal regions in grasslands and open oak woodlands at elevations of 20 to 800 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces striking dark royal-blue flowers, occasionally white or lavender, with lateral sepals 10 to 25 millimeters long. Growing with upright stems containing fewer than 10 flowers along the main axis, it forms compact clusters of distinctive blossoms. Its lower petal blades measure 4 to 11 millimeters, creating delicate floral structures characteristic of larkspur species. The plant exhibits genetic complexity with chromosome counts of either 16 or 32.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 38 sympatric species; distinguished by flower count and sepal color
Habitat and range
Habitat: Grassland, open oak woodland
Elevation: 20-800 m
California counties: Santa Clara, Stanislaus, Napa, Tulare, Madera, Mariposa, Lake, San Benito, Shasta, Tehama, Colusa, Butte, Contra Costa, Monterey, Nevada, Calaveras, San Mateo, Amador, Merced, Sonoma, Placer, Marin, Yuba, Mendocino, San Luis Obispo, Sutter, Tuolumne, Solano, Humboldt, Glenn, Sacramento, El Dorado, Yolo, Fresno, Siskiyou, Alameda, San Diego, Kern
Bloom period
Delphinium variegatum subsp. variegatum blooms Mar-May.
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 variegatum subsp. variegatum native to California?
Yes. Delphinium variegatum subsp. variegatum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Delphinium variegatum subsp. variegatum bloom?
Delphinium variegatum subsp. variegatum blooms Mar-May.
Where in California does Delphinium variegatum subsp. variegatum grow?
Delphinium variegatum subsp. variegatum occurs in Santa Clara, Stanislaus, Napa, Tulare, Madera, Mariposa, Lake, San Benito and other counties, at elevations of 20-800 m.
What plant family does Delphinium variegatum subsp. variegatum belong to?
Delphinium variegatum subsp. variegatum is in the Ranunculaceae family, genus Delphinium.
What habitat does Delphinium variegatum subsp. variegatum grow in?
Delphinium variegatum subsp. variegatum grows in Grassland, open oak woodland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Delphinium ajacis — Doubtful knight's spur
- Delphinium andersonii — Anderson's larkspur
- Delphinium antoninum — Anthony peak larkspur
- Delphinium bakeri — Baker's larkspur
- Delphinium californicum — California larkspur
- Delphinium californicum subsp. californicum — Coast or california larkspur
- Enemion occidentale — Western rue-anemone
- Enemion sp. — False rue-anemone
- Enemion stipitatum — Siskiyou rue-anemone
- Myosurus apetalus — Bristly mousetail
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.