Dipterostemon capitatus subsp. lacuna-vernalis

Vernal pool blue dicks

Family: Themidaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Vernal pool blue dicks is a California native perennial found in grasslands and grassy openings in oak woodland in central California at elevations of 30 to 270 meters. Flowering from February to April, this plant produces purple flowers in compact clusters with 1 to 3 blooms per scape. Growing with slender stems 6 to 20 centimeters tall, it emerges from a small underground corm. Its flowers feature distinctive ovate perianth lobes that are 9 to 14 millimeters long, with outer lobes cordate at the base and inner lobes oblong in shape. Each delicate flower has small appendages 3.4 to 6 millimeters long, creating an intricate floral structure characteristic of this vernal pool indicator species.

Habitat: Grassland, grassy openings in oak woodland

Bloom period: Feb-Apr

Elevation: 30-270 m

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