Delphinium tricorne
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- del-FIN-ee-um trai-korn
- This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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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.
- 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:
- tricorne
- Family:
- Ranunculaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of 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.
- Edibility:
- Poisonous
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Poisonous
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Maintenance:
- High
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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:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Green
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Follicle
- Fruit Description:
- Three horn-like fruit pods split to release seeds August to October.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Trumpet
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Colored Sepals
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- 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.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Rhomboidal
- Leaf Margin:
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 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.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Stems are erect, hairy, terete, and fleshy. May need staking when flowering.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Slope/Bank
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Native Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Moths
- Songbirds
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
- Weedy
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- High
- 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.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Alkaloids delphinine, ajacine, and others.
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Flowers
- Leaves
- Seeds
- Stems
