# Red larkspur (*Delphinium nudicaule*) The Red Larkspur is a bright and beautiful flower that blooms in the wild. Its tall, slender stems hold clusters of vibrant red flowers that attract butterflies and bees. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate - **Snaps:** 3 - **Habitat:** Mountain regions ![Red larkspur](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Delphinium_nudicaule_Lake_County.jpg&width=800) Photo: Eric in SF, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Delphinium_nudicaule_Lake_County.jpg) ## Appearance The Red larkspur has brilliant scarlet to orange-red flowers clustered on tall, slender stems. Each flower features a distinctive backward-pointing spur, giving it a unique, almost bird-like appearance. Its vibrant color stands out sharply against green foliage. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Ranunculales - **Family:** Ranunculaceae - **Genus:** Delphinium ## Interesting facts - Its fiery red blooms are a favorite snack bar for darting hummingbirds! - Red larkspur loves to grow where other plants struggle, like steep, rocky hillsides! - Some indigenous peoples used larkspur for colorful dyes and traditional medicine! - The name 'larkspur' comes from its flower's spur, which looks like a bird's claw! ## Special abilities - **Hummingbird Magnet:** Red larkspur has bright red, tubular flowers that act like a beacon, attracting specialized hummingbird pollinators. - **Nectar Delivery System:** Its unique spur acts as a specialized tube, holding nectar deep inside, accessible only to long-beaked visitors. - **Rocky Resilience:** Red larkspur can thrive on rocky slopes and in poor soils, thanks to its ability to adapt to harsh growing conditions. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 30-90 cm - **Spread:** 15-30 cm - **Flower Size:** 2-3 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring to early Summer (April-July) - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** High - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Bird ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) — Main pollinator due to specialized flower shape. - **Pollinates:** [Black-chinned Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-chinned-hummingbird) (*Archilochus alexandri*) — Also frequently visits and pollinates these red flowers. - **Eaten by:** [Mule Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — May browse foliage, though toxicity deters heavy feeding. ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [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. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Mountain](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/mountain): This habitat trait identifies species found in mountainous regions, characterized by high elevation, steep slopes, and varying climate zones. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate Always look but don't touch wildflowers, as some can be harmful. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Red larkspur? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Red larkspur? 30-90 cm ### How wide does Red larkspur spread? 15-30 cm ### How big are the flowers on Red larkspur? 2-3 cm ### When does Red larkspur bloom? Spring to early Summer (April-July) ### Is Red larkspur edible? No ### Is Red larkspur toxic? High ### What is Red larkspur's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Audubon Canyon](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/audubon-canyon) — California, US · Nature Reserve - [Dunsmuir Botanical Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/dunsmuir-botanical-gardens) — California, US · Botanical Garden - [Jack London State Historic Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/jack-london-state-historic-park) — California, US · State Park - [Robert Louis Stevenson State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/robert-louis-stevenson-state-park) — California, US · State Park [View all places to see Red larkspur](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/red-larkspur) ## 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*) --- Source: [Red larkspur: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-larkspur)