Species › Plants › Nuttall's Larkspur

Nuttall's Larkspur

Delphinium nuttallianum

CommonPlant
Illustration of Nuttall's Larkspur (Delphinium nuttallianum)
Safety note: Highly toxic; all parts can be fatal to livestock and humans.

Nuttall's Larkspur is a small but showy wildflower of western meadows and grasslands with deep blue-purple flowers in early spring. It is an important early nectar source for queen bumblebees. Unfortunately, it is highly toxic to cattle, particularly the new spring growth, and is a significant cause of livestock mortality on western rangelands.

Habitat
Dry meadows, open woodlands, and sagebrush steppe of the interior West
Diet
Critical early spring nectar for queen bumblebees and hummingbirds
How common
Common

Best time to see a Nuttall's Larkspur

The best time to see a Nuttall's Larkspur is April–May, when about 65% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 5,220 research-grade iNaturalist observations.

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