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Plant Profile

Yellow Larkspur (Delphinium luteum)

The yellow flowers of this delphinium can be found from March to May, and are pollinated by hummingbirds. Photo Credit: Holly Forbes

Global Rank: G1 - Critically Imperiled
Legal Status: Federally Endangered
Family: Ranunculaceae
State: CA
Nature Serve ID: 157718
Lifeform: Forb/herb
Date Inducted in National Collection: 04/04/1991

Description:

The picturesque coast of California north of San Francisco is the only home for the yellow larkspur. Now found in only two locations, both on private land, it was probably never widely distributed, occurring on rocky areas within coastal scrub at elevations up to 100 meters. Loss of habitat due to quarrying, livestock grazing, development, and overcollecting reduced its numbers to these two occurrences.

Where is Yellow Larkspur (Delphinium luteum) located in the wild?

Habitat:

Yellow Larkspur grows in rocky areas within coastal scrub plant communities, including areas with active rock slides, from sea level to 100 m. in elevation. (USFWS 2002)

Distribution:

Coastal Sonoma County, California. (USFWS 2002)

States & Provinces:

Yellow Larkspur can be found in California

Which CPC Partners conserve Yellow Larkspur (Delphinium luteum)?

University of California Botanical Garden

Partially Sponsored

Conservation Actions

09/08/2020

An examination of the genetic variability of the species and the potential hybrid contamination of two ex situ populations was carried out (Koontz et al. 2001). They found that while the two ex situ populations have somewhat reduced genetic variability in comparison to one of the natural populations, it wasn't significant enough to bar using them in a future introduction effort, nor was there any evidence of hybridization in cultivation.

09/01/2020

Based on an September 2020 extract of the California Plant Rescue Database, University of California Botanical Garden holds 45 accessions of Delphinium luteum in orthodox seed collection. There are as many as 971 seeds of this species in their collection - although some may have been used for curation testing or sent to back up.

08/05/2020

Based on an August 2020 extract of the California Plant Rescue Database, University of California Botanical Garden has collected 45 seed accessions of Delphinium luteum from 1 plant occurrences listed in the California Natural Diversity Database. These collections together emcompass 45 maternal plants

Nature Serve Biotics

05/02/2017

Known only from coastal Sonoma County and Marin County, California. Historical populations have been extirpated and the available habitat greatly diminished. Threats to this species include development, over collection, road maintenance including widening, sheep grazing, fire suppression, and hybridization with other Delphinium species. In 2005 only about 200 individuals were suspected to be persisting. Since this species is known from such small numbers and few populations it is also threatened by natural events such as unseasonal fires, drought, or disease that could lead to extinction.

Holly Forbes

01/01/2010

Threats include: rock quarrying activities over-collecting residential development deer and sheep grazing

Holly Forbes

01/01/2010

The two remaining populations total fewer than 80 plants. These numbers fluctuate from year to year. Two ex situ populations are in cultivation in Sonoma County and at the University of California Botanical Garden at Berkeley. (USFWS 2002)

Holly Forbes

01/01/2010

Holly Forbes

01/01/2010

The two populations are not under any management program.

Holly Forbes

01/01/2010

More information on this species' life history, environmental requirements, pollination biology, and seed dispersal will be needed to promote a successful reintroduction effort. The USFWS will be designating critical habitat for the yellow larkspur this year (2002).

Holly Forbes

01/01/2010

Seed collection of a genetically representative sample is needed for long-term storage.