Tall larkspur
Delphinium exaltatum
Last reviewed: August 2026
Light
part shade
Water
medium
Size
24"–60" H × 12"–18" W
Bloom
Jun, Jul, Aug
Native to
AL, KY, MD, MN and 6 more states
Pollinators
bumble bees, hummingbirds
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 431 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaTall larkspur is an upright perennial forb with deeply divided leaves and a spike of violet-blue flowers held well above the foliage. It grows from rocky wooded slopes and open woodland edges, dying back to the ground each winter and re-emerging in spring.
Wildlife value
The tubular flowers draw bumble bees and long-tongued bees, and hummingbirds visit for nectar. All plant parts are toxic if ingested, so its role is ornamental rather than edible or forage.
Common questions
- How much sun does Tall larkspur need?
- Tall larkspur grows best in part shade conditions.
- When does Tall larkspur bloom?
- Tall larkspur blooms in June, July, and August.
- Where is Tall larkspur native?
- Tall larkspur (Delphinium exaltatum) is native to AL, KY, MD, MN and 6 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
- What pollinators does Tall larkspur attract?
- Tall larkspur draws bumble bees and hummingbirds.
Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
Ready to grow Tall larkspur? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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