# Delphinium (*Delphinium ajacis*)

Delphiniums are tall flowers with spikes of blue, purple, or white blooms. They make any garden look magical!

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Snaps:** 5
- **Habitat:** Gardens and flower beds
- **Also known as:** Larkspur

![Delphinium](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426796/objects/4979.jpg)

## Appearance

The Delphinium has tall, stately flower spikes, often in vivid blues, purples, pinks, or white, with individual flowers featuring a distinctive spur at the back. Its deeply lobed leaves form a neat clump below the colorful bloom.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Ranunculales
- **Family:** Ranunculaceae
- **Genus:** Delphinium

## Interesting facts

- "Delphinium" means "dolphin" in Greek, named for its flower buds resembling a leaping dolphin!
- Ancient societies once used delphinium flowers to create beautiful blue dyes and inks!
- Some delphinium petals contain special pigments that make their blue color even more vibrant!
- The tiny spur on each flower acts like a secret hiding place for nectar, attracting thirsty insects!

## Special abilities

- **Toxic Shield:** Delphinium produces powerful toxins that deter hungry animals, helping it survive from being eaten.
- **Sky-High Signals:** Its tall flower spikes stand out against other plants, making them easy for pollinators to spot.
- **Nectar Nudge:** Delphinium has a unique spurred flower shape that guides specific pollinators directly to its nectar.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 30-100 cm
- **Spread:** 15-30 cm
- **Flower Size:** 2-4 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Late spring to late summer
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** High
- **Lifecycle:** Annual
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Collects nectar and pollen from flowers.
- **Pollinates:** Buff-tailed Bumblebee (*Bombus terrestris*) — Visits the spurred flowers for sweet nectar.
- **Eaten by:** Black Bean Aphid (*Aphis fabae*) — Sucks sap from stems, potentially causing damage.
- **Eaten by:** [Garden Snail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/garden-snail) (*Helix aspersa*) — Grazes on leaves and tender young plant parts.

## Traits

- [Herbaceous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbaceous): Herbaceous plants are non-woody plants with soft stems that typically die back to the ground at the end of the growing season.
- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form.
- [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.
- [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces.

## Collections

- [Flowers](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/flowers)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Explore with care and ask an adult if you’re unsure what to do.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Delphinium?

Count the petals where you can, then compare the flower's center, its symmetry, how the blooms are grouped and the leaves below. Color varies between garden varieties and shifts with the light. Flower Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Delphinium?

30-100 cm

### How wide does Delphinium spread?

15-30 cm

### How big are the flowers on Delphinium?

2-4 cm

### When does Delphinium bloom?

Late spring to late summer

### Is Delphinium edible?

No

### Is Delphinium toxic?

High

### What is Delphinium's lifecycle?

Annual

## Where to spot

- [Kentucky Down Under](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kentucky-down-under) — Kentucky, US · Zoo
- [Audubon Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/audubon-park) — Kentucky, US · Historic District
- [Old Louisville](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/old-louisville) — Kentucky, US · Neighborhood

[View all places to see Delphinium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/delphinium)

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Delphinium: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/delphinium)