- Karen Sullivan, Kim Riley, and Terre Logsdon
- Posted On
Lake County Native Wildflowers: Larkspur – towering above the rest
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Rising above a field of grass or on rocky outcrops on slender stalks waving in the breeze in deep shades of violet (Foothill Larkspur, Delphinium hesperium) or red (Red Larkspur, Delphinium nudicaule) is commonly just called larkspur and both varieties are native to Lake County.
Often grown and used as cut flowers (but don’t pick the wildflowers if not in your own yard), both varieties of these larkspur are classified within the genus Delphinium because the flower buds on the plant look a lot like a dolphin.
Regardless of the genus classification, the plant earned the common name of larkspur because the elongated petals on each bloom look like spurs- typically, the hind claws of a lark.
Foothill larkspur, or also called western or coastal larkspur, is endemic to California, where it grows in woodland and grassland in the northern half of the state including Lake County.
It is well adapted to serpentine soils and grassy areas, and rises like a banner of deep violet above the surrounding grasses but can sometimes be found with lighter pinkish to white flowers.
Red larkspur, or also orange larkspur and canyon delphinium, sends up long, stringy thin stems with the flowers in shades of red and orange towering above the leaves near the ground.
Native to the lower elevation canyons, foothills, and slopes, it is often found along the banks of streams and roadsides in Lake County.
Both red and foothill larkspur attract hummingbirds in droves; so if you want more hummers in your yard, larkspur is a great choice of wildflower, with both larkspur varieties reaching up to three or four foot tall, blooming mid-spring, and can grow in full sun to part shade.
Red larkspur prefers moist, heavy clay soils with some shade while foothill larkspur prefers open, grassy areas with full sun; both are well adapted to Lake County in the right spot and will bring joy to your garden – as well as the bees and hummingbirds.
Nurseries where you can purchase seeds/starts:
Red Larkspur: https://calscape.org/nurseries.php?id=1235&showmap=1
Foothill Larkspur: None known at this time.
Terre Logsdon is an environmentalist, certified master composter, and advocate for agroecology solutions to farming. An avid fan and protector of California wildflowers, plants, natural resources, and the environment, she seeks collaborative solutions to mitigate the effects of climate change. Kim Riley is retired, an avid hiker at Highland Springs, and has lived in Lake County since 1985. After 15 years of trail recovery and maintenance on the Highland Springs trails, she is now focused on native plants, including a native plant and pollinator garden on her property as well as promoting and preserving the beauty of the Highland Springs Recreation Area. Karen Sullivan has operated two nurseries to propagate and cultivate native plants and wildflowers, has lived in Kelseyville for the past 30 years, rides horses far and wide to see as many flowers as possible, and offers native plants and wildflowers for sale to the public. You can check her nursery stock here. They are collaborating on a book, Highland Springs Recreation Area: A Field Guide, which will be published in the future. In the meanwhile, please visit https://www.facebook.com/HighlandSpringsNaturalists and https://www.facebook.com/HighlandSpringsRecreationArea.