Coast Larkspur
Delphinium decorum subsp. decorum
Care
full sun, part shade
2–2ft tall
Friendly
Prized
Coastal grassland and scrub from Humboldt County to Santa Barbara County, below 2000 ft elevation
Care Guide
Planting
Plant your Coast Larkspur in full sun to part shade, where it will thrive in the Bay Area's native habitat conditions. This wildflower grows naturally on coastal range slopes, so it prefers well-draining soil and shouldn't be crowded - space plants to account for their erect, spindly stems that reach about 18-24 inches tall. Plant in fall or early winter to take advantage of our rainy season and help establish roots before summer arrives.
After Planting
Water regularly during your plant's first growing season to help it establish, then reduce watering as it matures since it's adapted to California's dry summers. Expect delicate, widely-spaced blue to purple star-shaped flowers on thin stems - their fragile appearance is normal for this species. The plant's basal leaves are where most of the foliage lives, so resist the urge to over-tidy; simply remove dead flower stems after bloom and let the plant dry down naturally as it enters dormancy.
Endangered & Threatened Species Supported
Listed under California ESA; populations severely declined due to disease and habitat loss
Wildlife Supported
Birds
Spring-summer migration stopover and breeding season nectar source
Insects
Critical early summer forage
Declining species; important remaining forage resource
Important summer nectar source for colony provisioning
Peak foraging during delphinium bloom period
Pollinator mimic; summer foraging
Multiple species utilize delphinium flowers
Pollen and nectar feeder; beneficial insect
Secondary forage source when abundant
+6 more species