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Tall Larkspur — Delphinium exaltatum
Hummingbirds
Bees
Butterflies
Eastern USA Native

Tall Larkspur

Delphinium exaltatum

Perennial

Tall Larkspur

Delphinium exaltatum

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Growing Conditions

Light Light Sun – Part Shade
Water Water Medium
Soil Soil Loam
Size Size 4-6'
Bloom Bloom Blue, Jul–Aug

Why Grow It

Deer Resistant Great for gardens without fencing

Did You Know?

Tall Larkspur blooms much later than other native Delphiniums — in July when species like Dwarf Larkspur have already gone dormant.
The distinctive spurred flowers are specially shaped to reward hummingbirds and bumblebees while excluding less effective pollinators.
All parts contain toxic diterpenoid alkaloids including methyllycaconitine, making it highly poisonous but also completely deer resistant.

Wildlife Value

🐦
Hummingbirds Drawn to deep blue tubular flower spurs
🐝
Long-tongued Bees Bumblebees access nectar from spurred flowers
🦋
Bilobed Looper Moth Larvae feed on larkspur foliage

Good Companions

💜 Purple Coneflower 🌿 Short-toothed Mountain Mint 🌸 Wild Columbine 🌼 Cliff Goldenrod

Planting Guide

  1. Plant plugs in part shade in rich, well-drained loam.
  2. Space 18 inches apart; provide support for tall stems.
  3. Caution: all parts are toxic to humans and livestock.

Heads Up

Toxic to Humans Keep away from children

Plant Details

Tall Larkspur detail
Tall Larkspur detail
Tall Larkspur detail
Tall Larkspur detail
Tall Larkspur detail
Made with ♥ by Lu Li