Delphinium parryi
Spring-flowering perennial native to oak woodlands and chaparral from California to Baja California, with two morphotypes differing in flower size and pubescence, bearing dense spike-like racemes of bright bluish-purple, bilaterally symmetrical flowers, and vertebrate-poison properties making any part toxic if eaten.
Common Names
Parry's Larkspur, San Bernardino Larkspur
Summary
Parry's larkspur is a perennial herb in the Ranunculaceae native to California and Baja California, with stiffly erect, hairy stems and deeply pinnately divided leaves. Inflorescences are dense, cylindric spike-like racemes bearing blue to bluish-purple, bilaterally symmetrical flowers; sepals dark blue to bluish-purple with pubescence; spurs straight and 9–17(–21) mm long; lower petal blades about 3–10 mm with hairs mostly near the base of the cleft; inflorescences range 2–24(–48) flowers and bloom in spring.
In cultivation, it favors full sun to partial shade and well-drained soils; native habitat includes chaparral and woodlands; propagation by seed with no treatment; suitable for borders or cottage gardens and for native or pollinator plantings; highly toxic if ingested.
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
6 inches-3.5 feet
Spread
4-12 inches
Hardiness Zones
Zones 8b-10b
Sunlight Requirements
Ideally full sun to partial sun.
Soil Type
Well-drained soil
Soil Drainage
Well-drained soil.
Bloom Color
Blue to Purple
Bloom Time
Spring to Summer
Foliage Color
Green
Fall Foliage Color
Green
Leaf Lifecycle
Deciduous
Seasons of Interest
Spring and Summer
Propagation Methods
Seeds (no treatment)
Attracts Wildlife
Bees, hummingbirds, butterflies, birds
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Species
- Author
- A.Gray
- Publication
- Bot. Gaz. 12: 50 (1887)
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Angiosperms
- Order
- Ranunculales
- Family
- Ranunculaceae
- Genus
- Delphinium
Inferior Taxa
Delphinium parryi subsp. blochmaniae Delphinium parryi subsp. maritimum Delphinium parryi subsp. purpureum
Synonyms
Delphinium hesperium var. seditiosum Delphinium parryi subsp. seditiosum Delphinium parryi subsp. parryi