Dwarf larkspur is a herbaceous perennial in the buttercup family native to the eastern United States, where it is the most common Delphinium found in moist forests and thickets. This plant will struggle in areas with high humidity summers. The flowers bloom in July to Sept. in loose clusters of 6-12 flowers that are usually bluish-purple but sometimes have some white. They are tubular with one sepal bent backwards to create a spur. The leaves are finely cut into deep lobes and mostly basal. Dwarf Larkspur prefers fertile moist soils with some shade in the afternoon and a protective spot from winds. Use in borders, mass planting or small groups, a woodland setting or native garden. Diseases, Insects and Problems: Diseases are powdery mildew, botrytis blight, leaf spots and crown rot. Insects are Slugs and snails, aphids, leaf miners, stem borers and mites. Staking may be required for taller plants. Poisonous. More information on Delphinium .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter
Soil pH
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
Less than 12 inches
NC region
Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
Maintenance
High
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Leaf color
Gray/Silver; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Rhomboidal
Leaf margin
Lobed
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 3-6 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Up to 4 inches long and wide gray-green to green basal leaves are finely cut and palmately divided into 5 deep lobes which are in turn divided into 2-3 shallow secondary lobes. Their stems are hairy and long. Stems leaves occur sparsely up the flower stem.
Flower color
Blue; Purple/Lavender; White
Flower value
Good Cut; Showy
Flower form
Raceme
Flower shape
Trumpet
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Loose raceme of up to 1.5-inch bluish-purple to occasionally whitish trumpet-shaped flowers. Five petal-like sepals with the upper sepal extending backward into an upright spur. The four petals are small. Flowers bloom from July to September.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Fruit color
Green
Fruit type
Follicle
Fruit detail
Three horn-like fruit pods split to release seeds August to October.
Stem color
Gray/Silver; Green
Stem detail
Stems are erect, hairy, terete, and fleshy. May need staking when flowering.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
North Central & Eastern U.S.A
Distribution
AL , AR , DC , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , MD , MN , MO , MS , NC , NE , OH , OK , PA , SC , TN , VA , WV
Wildlife value
This plant attracts birds and moth larvae.
Attracts
Moths; Songbirds
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall
Fruit type
Follicle
Edibility
Poisonous
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Meadow; Naturalized Area; Slope/Bank; Woodland
Landscape theme
Cottage Garden; Native Garden
Design feature
Border; Mass Planting; Small groups
Garden tags
#poisonous #NC native #problem for dogs #problem for horses #problem for cats #food source herbage #food source hard mast fruit #Coastal FAC #Piedmont Mountains FAC #food source fall #bird friendly #blue flowers #purple flowers #Audubon #cutting garden #larval host plant #wildflower
Problems & Resistance
Problems
Poisonous to Humans; Problem for Cats; Problem for Dogs; Problem for Horses; Weedy
Propagation
Seed
Poison severity
High
Poison parts
Flowers; Leaves; Seeds; Stems
Poison symptoms
Burning of lips and mouth, numbness of throat; intense vomiting and diarrhea, muscular weakness and spasms, weak pulse, paralysis of the respiratory system, convulsions; may be fatal if eaten. Unless there is a lack of suitable forage, horses typically do not consume toxic amounts of larkspur. The toxicity of the plant may vary depending on seasonal changes and field conditions; as the plant matures, it generally becomes less toxic. Clinical effects include constipation, colic, increased salivation, stiffness, weakness, recumbency, and convulsions. Cardiac failure may occur, as can death from respiratory paralysis.
Toxic principle
Alkaloids delphinine, ajacine, and others.
Contact dermatitis
No
Toxicity summary
High severity poison; parts: Flowers; Leaves; Seeds; Stems