Tall Larkspur

(Delphinium exaltatum)

Tall Larkspur (Delphinium exaltatum Ait.)

Identification: Plant 2 to 6 feet tall. Flowers violet-blue, sometimes white, with 5 petal-like sepals, the upper sepal extended into an elongate, straight flower spur. Leaves greatly divided but leaflets weakly divided, nearly spike-shaped. Plant 2 to 6 feet in height.

Distribution: A rare species found from Missouri in the west to Pennsylvania in the east, southward to Alabama and North Carolina.

Habitat: Tall Larkspur is found in forest and on wooded slopes, in the mountains in the southern part of its range.

Flowering period: July to September.

Similar Species: Tall Larkspur is most likely to be confused with Dwarf Larkspur. Dwarf Larkspur is a much smaller plant (1 to 2.5 feet in height). The flower spur of Dwarf Larkspur is curved upward, not straight, and the leaves are much more strongly divided. Tall Larkspur flowers in the summer and early fall, Dwarf Larkspur in the spring.