Carolina Larkspur Delphinium carolinianum
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- del-FIN-ee-um kair-oh-lin-ee-AY-num
- This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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The Greek work 'delphinium' translates to dolphin. The dolphin-like shape of this plants buds has earned its Latin name.
Carolina larkspur is a south-eastern native perennial wildflower in the Ranunculaceae family. It can be found growing on rocky, limestone glades. Its preferred location will include dry alkaline soil in full sun. Not being heat tolerant, it may disappear as the temperatures climb and reappear as the temperatures cool.
The blue flowers make this plant a favorite of bumblebees. As a species, bumblebees are more adapted to visually see blue, ultraviolet and yellow wavelengths. The coloring of the Blue Larkspur is a bumblebee magnet.
The flowers appear on a raceme with up to 30 to 40 flowers. They bloom over a 3 to 4-week period in late spring to early summer. The plant will then become dormant. Do to the long raceme, this plant may need to be staked.
Considered a short-lived perennial, it does however, reseed itself.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Crown rot, botrytis blight, leaf spot and powdery mildew are diseases to watch out for. Aphids, mites, stem borers, leaf miners, snails and slugs are insects that can damage your plant.
This plant does not transplant well.
All parts of the plant can be toxic to humans and animals.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Delphinium
- Species:
- carolinianum
- Family:
- Ranunculaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central and southeastern U.S.A.
- Distribution:
- AL, AR, CO, FL, GA, IA, IL, KS, KY, LA, MN, MO, MS, ND, NE, OK, SC, SD, TN, TX, WI
- Wildlife Value:
- Flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies. Bumblebees are attracted to the flowers nectar.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Wildlife Food Source
- Edibility:
- Toxic if ingested.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 8 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- 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:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4b, 4a, 5b, 5a, 6b, 6a, 7b, 7a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Fruit Type:
- Follicle
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- After flowering, 3 seedpods or follicles that will replace the flower. They are joined together at the base. They will split open to release its seed. First green, they will turn slight brown as they ripen.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Spike
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Irregular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Blue-violet flowers appear in on 6" to 1' long spikes with clusters of flowers in mid-spring to early summer. The flowers have 4 petals. The sepals may have a green patch near its tip.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Each plant contains both basal leaves and leaves along the upright stem. The stem leaves are similar in appearance to the basal leaves except that they get smaller as they ascend the stem. The leaves are divided and lobed. The 4" basal leaves can form a rosette in the winter months prior to the flowers appearing.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- White
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- The greenish/white, erect, unbranched stems have a fine downy feel. The central stem ends with a raceme of flowers.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Cutting Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Dry Soil
- Rabbits
- Problems:
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
