Delphinium variegatum is a species of larkspur known by the common name royal larkspur. It is endemic to California, where it grows in mountains, valley and coast in woodlands and grasslands. On the forest floor of California oak woodlands typical plant associates are Calochortus luteus, Cynoglossum grande and Calochortus amabilis.C. Michael Hogan. 2009
Description This erect wildflower may reach half a meter in maximum height.Jepson Manual. 1993 Its leaves have deep lobes which may overlap. The long petioles are hairy. The branching inflorescence holds up to 25 widely spaced flowers, which are usually bright deep blue, and occasionally lighter blue or white, depending on subspecies. The spur is between one and two centimeters long.
Subspecies There are three generally accepted subspecies. ssp. kinkiense ssp. thornei ssp. kinkiensis
Two of them, ssp. kinkiense and ssp. thornei, are endemic to San Clemente Island, one of the Channel Islands of California. Ssp. kinkiensis, which is sometimes called Delphinium kinkiense ssp. kinkiense, is treated as a federally listed endangered species.California Native Plant Society Rare Plant Profile: Delphinium variegatum Although it is in fact rarer than ssp. kinkiensis, ssp. thornei does not have a federal or state listing.Center for Plant Conservation
Unlike the other two subspecies, ssp. kinkiensis sometimes bears white flowers. Blue-flowered individuals are difficult to differentiate from ssp. thornei.
Notes
References California Native Plant Society Rare Plant Profile Center for Plant Conservation: ssp. thornei C. Michael Hogan. 2009. Gold Nuggets: Calochortus luteus, GlobalTwitcher.com, ed. N. Stromberg Jepson Manual. 1993. Delphinium variegatum
External links Calflora Database: Delphinium variegatum (royal larkspur) Jepson eFlora (TJM2): Delphinium variegatum Center for Plant Conservation: Delphinium variegatum ssp. kinkiensis UC Photos gallery − Delphinium variegatum