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Dwarf Larkspur, Spring Larkspur - Delphinium tricorne


Family: Ranunculaceae - Buttercup family Genus Common Name: Larkspur Native Status: NativeDicot Perennial Herb Leaves:Basal Leaves:Alternate
Delphinium tricorne - Dwarf Larkspur, Spring Larkspur.
Delphinium is a large genus of about 300 species, with over 60 found in North America - most of them native, all of them poisonous, so do not ingest. The majority of the North American species are western and northwestern species, with only a few found east of the western great plains.

Delphinium tricorne is a woodland wildflower of mid to late spring. The plant will usually be 18 to 30 inches tall, unlike some of its cousins which might be up to six feet tall. The spurred blossoms are blue, white, or both blue and white.

Many thanks to Mike Christison of the Georgia Botanical Society who notified me that these were blooming at Sitton's Gulch of Cloudland Canyon State Park, where I photographed the plant for the first time.

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Delphinium tricorne

Distribution of Delphinium tricorne in the United States and Canada:
Map unavailable.
Map courtesy of The Biota of North America Program.
Map color key

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Site: Sitton's Gulch, Dade County, Ga Date: 2010-April-25Photographer: Gerald C. Williamson f/7.1 ISO200 Flash: Yes
Dwarf Larkspur has a complex blossom structure. Using this example, the blue petal-like outer structures are actually the 5 sepals, and the central white parts are the upper petals. The central purple, hairy parts are the lower petals. The long spur is part of the upper sepal.
Delphinium tricorne
Site: Sitton's Gulch, Dade County, Ga Date: 2015-April-04Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D7000
The flowers of Dwarf Larkspur can be blue, white, or bi-color as shown here.
Click on the photo for a larger image
Delphinium tricorne
Site: Collins Gulf Trail, Savage Gulch State Natural Area, Grundy County, TN Date: 2017-April-04Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D7000
Dwarf Larkspur grows to about 2.5 feet tall.
Click on the photo for a larger image
Delphinium tricorne
Site: Sitton's Gulch, Dade County, Ga Date: 2010-April-25Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D60
1/100f/5 ISO200
Tamron SP 90MM f/2.8 AF Macro
90mm (135 equiv)
Dwarf Larkspurs leaves are deeply lobed. They are mostly basal; the stem leaves are alternate.
Click on the photo for a larger image
Delphinium tricorne
References used for identification and information:
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Delphinium tricorne initially published on USWildflowers.com 2010-04-26; Updated 2018-11-15

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All content except USDA Plants Database map Copyright Gerald C. Williamson 2024
Photographs Copyright owned by the named photographer



Code Update 20230302