Description

Please Note: These cool season plants go dormant during hot weather.  They will regrow in the fall when the temperatures cool down.

Key Information:

Soil: Mesic (Medium) – Xeric (Dry)
Sun: Full Sun – Part Sun
Height: 2-4 feet
Bloom Color: Pale blue-lavender
Bloom Season: June – July

More Details:

Suggested Uses: Prairie Larkspur is an upland prairie species. It is an excellent restoration plant as well as lovely specimen plant in the garden, particularly rock gardens. They are attractive to hummingbirds and are a lovely cut flower as well. They grow very well in sandy or gravel soils.

Native Range: Native to the Great Plains including Minnesota.

Pollinators: Bees and hummingbirds.

Flowers: The flowers grow on a long slender spike. There are 5 sepals – the upper two are spurred, and 4 inconspicuous petals. Each 1″ flower has about 20 stamens and purple colored anthers.

Leaves: The leaves are alternate and have leaf stems (petioles), then they are divided into 3 sections and divided again into long thin leaflets.

Interesting Facts:

Medicinal Uses: Dried, ground seeds in alcohol have been used in anti-lice lotions and ointments.
Food Uses: Toxic!
Other Uses:  Cleanses the air and soil, by taking up toxins.
Name: Delphinium is Greek for “Dolphin.”
Other Names: Blue Larkspur
More information: USDA plant profile