Plant · P-1110

Prairie Larkspur

Delphinium carolinianum

Prairie Larkspur sends up a narrow spike of blue, white or violet spurred flowers from spring into early summer, then often vanishes in the heat of summer and reappears when the weather cools again. Every part of the plant is highly toxic, especially to cattle, so it needs to stay out of reach of grazing animals, poultry and children. The flower's long backward-facing spur holds nectar too deep for most insects to reach, which makes it a magnet for bumble bees and other long-tongued pollinators. Its seeds also have an old use: ground and steeped in alcohol, they are applied externally to kill head lice.