Delphinium carolinianum Walter ssp. carolinianum. Common name: Ozark Larkspur, Prairie Larkspur, Carolina Larkspur, Blue Larkspur. Phenology: (Apr-) May-Jul. Habitat: Rocky woodlands, granite outcrops, Altamaha Grit outcrops, blackland prairies, calcareous glades, moist sandy woodlands associated with longleaf pine. Distribution: IL west to e. KS, south to LA and TX, with disjunct occurrences eastward in SC, GA, AL, Panhandle FL (Gadsden County), and MS; questionably reported for c. TN. The flowers are a pale to medium blue. This species has been reported for NC (by C) and ‘north to Va.’ (by F and S). I know of no documentation for its past or present occurrence in NC or VA, but its presence in those states is plausible.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, FNA3, Il, K4, Mo3, NcTx, NS, POWO, Tn; = Delphinium azureum Michx.; = Delphinium carolinianum Walter — C, G, GrPl, S13, Kral (1976); < Delphinium carolinianum Walter — RAB, S, Tx, WH3, Keener (1977), Wang et al. (2009), Warnock (1995); >< Delphinium carolinianum Walter var. carolinianum — F; > Delphinium carolinianum Walter var. crispum Perry — F; > Delphinium carolinianum Walter var. nortonianum (Mack. & Bush) Perry — F; Delphinium carolinianum Walter. Basionym: Delphinium carolinianum Walter 1788
Links to other floras: = Delphinium carolinianum ssp. carolinianum - FNA3
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Heliophily ⓘ: 8
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© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Alan Weakley source | Original Image ⭷
© Alan Cressler: Delphinium carolinianum ssp. carolinianum, Kathy Stiles Freeland Bibb County Glades Preserve, The Nature Conservancy, Bibb County, Alabama 2 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
© Alan Weakley source | Original Image ⭷
© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Alan Weakley source | Original Image ⭷Feedback
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Erect perennial of rocky woodlands, granite outcrops, Altamaha Grit outcrops, blackland prairies, and moist sandy woodlands associated with longleaf pine.
Stems: Stems mostly unbranched, with sometimes reddish base, hairy.
Leaves: Leaves basal and alternate on stem, petiolate, roundish in outline, to 4 in. long, divided into many hairy, linear segments.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers in a terminal raceme above leaves, blue-violet (sometimes white), about 3/4 in. wide, tubular and bilaterally symmetric, with 5 curving-spreading petal-like sepals and a 1-in. spur extending behind and upward; 4 less showy, united petals in the center cover stamens and carpel, and the lowest ones are bearded.
Fruits: Fruit a 3-celled, cylindrical follicle, about 1/2 in. long.
Comments: Subspecies calciphilum occurs in limestone cedar glades and prairies; its flower are pale blue to white.
Height: 1-5 ft.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Erect perennial of rocky woodlands, granite outcrops, Altamaha Grit outcrops, blackland prairies, and moist sandy woodlands associated with longleaf pine.
stems: Stems mostly unbranched, with sometimes reddish base, hairy.
leaves: Leaves basal and alternate on stem, petiolate, roundish in outline, to 4 in. long, divided into many hairy, linear segments.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers in a terminal raceme above leaves, blue-violet (sometimes white), about 3/4 in. wide, tubular and bilaterally symmetric, with 5 curving-spreading petal-like sepals and a 1-in. spur extending behind and upward; 4 less showy, united petals in the center cover stamens and carpel, and the lowest ones are bearded.
fruits: Fruit a 3-celled, cylindrical follicle, about 1/2 in. long.
comments: Subspecies calciphilum occurs in limestone cedar glades and prairies; its flower are pale blue to white.
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range:
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