# Subalpine Larkspur (*Delphinium barbeyi*)

The Subalpine Larkspur is a beautiful flower that grows in the mountains. Its bright blue petals look like little stars and attract many butterflies and bees.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 2/5 · Low
- **Habitat:** Mountain regions

![Subalpine Larkspur](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Delphiniumbarbeyi.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Dave Powell, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Delphiniumbarbeyi.jpg)

## Appearance

The Subalpine Larkspur has tall, upright stems topped with densely packed clusters of striking deep blue to purple flowers. Each flower features a distinctive backward-pointing spur, making it easily recognizable in mountain meadows, setting it apart from many other wildflowers.

## Taxonomy

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

## Interesting facts

- If you ever find a patch, you'll see dozens of flowers on one amazing stem!
- Its bright blue flowers glow like jewels high up in the mountains!
- Its unique flowers look like a bird's backward spur, giving the plant its fancy name!
- Some Native American tribes used tiny parts of this plant for dye, not for eating!

## Special abilities

- **Poison Power:** Subalpine Larkspur can produce powerful toxins that help it defend against hungry animals like cattle, keeping them from eating its leaves and flowers.
- **Deep Root Dive:** Subalpine Larkspur has long, strong roots that help it find water and nutrients deep in rocky mountain soil, even during dry spells.
- **Pollinator Beacon:** Subalpine Larkspur has uniquely shaped blue flowers and a nectar spur that specifically attract long-tongued bumblebees to help spread its pollen.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 30-150 cm
- **Spread:** 15-30 cm
- **Flower Size:** 2-4 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Late spring to late summer
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** Deadly
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Two-form Bumblebee (*Bombus bifarius*) — Main pollinator due to long tongue
- **Eaten by:** [Cattle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cattle) (*Bos taurus*) — Can be fatally poisoned by ingesting the plant
- **Eaten by:** Domestic Sheep (*Ovis aries*) — Highly toxic if consumed, especially young plants

## 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:** 2/5 · Low

Do not touch or eat flowers without asking an adult, as some can be harmful.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Subalpine 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 Subalpine Larkspur?

30-150 cm

### How wide does Subalpine Larkspur spread?

15-30 cm

### How big are the flowers on Subalpine Larkspur?

2-4 cm

### When does Subalpine Larkspur bloom?

Late spring to late summer

### Is Subalpine Larkspur edible?

No

### Is Subalpine Larkspur toxic?

Deadly

### What is Subalpine Larkspur's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Cedar Breaks National Monument](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cedar-breaks-national-monument) — Utah, US · National Park

## 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: [Subalpine Larkspur: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/subalpine-larkspur)