Delphinium tricorne Michaux. Common name: Dwarf Larkspur. Phenology: Mar-May. Habitat: Rich, moist forests, especially over mafic or calcareous rocks, less commonly (as along the Roanoke River in ne. NC) on very fertile alluvial deposits, moist prairies. Distribution: Sw. PA and MN south to NC, nw. GA, AL, and OK.
ID notes: The flowers are variable in color, usually a deep bluish violet, but ranging through pink to pure white.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, C, F, FNA3, G, GrPl, Il, K4, Mo3, NS, Pa, POWO, RAB, S, S13, Tn, Va, W, WV, Kral (1976). Basionym: Delphinium tricorne Michx. 1803
Links to other floras: = Delphinium tricorne - FNA3
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Heliophily ⓘ: 3
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© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷
© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Alan Cressler: Delphinium tricorne, Taylor Ridge Shale Glades, Taylor Ridge, Chattahoochee National Forest, Chattooga County, Georgia 6 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
© Alan Cressler: Delphinium tricorne, basel leaves, Taylor Ridge Shale Glades, Taylor Ridge, Chattahoochee National Forest, Chattooga County, Georgia 1 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Alan Cressler: Delphinium tricorne, Calloway Sinks, Sharp-Bingham Mountain Preserve, The Nature Conservancy, Jackson County, Alabama 3 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
© Alan Cressler: Delphinium tricorne, Taylor Ridge Shale Glades, Taylor Ridge, Chattahoochee National Forest, Chattooga County, Georgia 2 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
© Alan Cressler: Delphinium tricorne, Carters Lake Reregulation Park, Murray County, Georgia 1 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷Feedback
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Erect perennial found in rich, moist forests, especially over mafic or calcareous rocks; less commonly on very fertile alluvial deposits.
Stems: Stems from thick, tuberous roots; stout, fleshy and unbranched.
Leaves: Leaves mostly basal; petiolate; to 4 in. long and wide; deeply palmately divided into 5-7 lobes, these in turn divided into 2-3 shallow lobes; sparsely hairy.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers in an open, terminal raceme; blue-purple to pink or white; 3/4-1 in. long; consisting of 5 petal-like sepals, the upper one prolonged into a curved nectar spur behind the flower and the other 4 spreading outward; 4 small, inner petals surround a whitish opening that leads to the spur.
Fruits: Fruit a strongly 3-parted follicles.
Comments:
Height: 12-20 in.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Erect perennial found in rich, moist forests, especially over mafic or calcareous rocks; less commonly on very fertile alluvial deposits.
stems: Stems from thick, tuberous roots; stout, fleshy and unbranched.
leaves: Leaves mostly basal; petiolate; to 4 in. long and wide; deeply palmately divided into 5-7 lobes, these in turn divided into 2-3 shallow lobes; sparsely hairy.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers in an open, terminal raceme; blue-purple to pink or white; 3/4-1 in. long; consisting of 5 petal-like sepals, the upper one prolonged into a curved nectar spur behind the flower and the other 4 spreading outward; 4 small, inner petals surround a whitish opening that leads to the spur.
fruits: Fruit a strongly 3-parted follicles.
comments:
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range: eastern & central United States
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