Low larkspur

Discuss this plant with the guide — choose this profile as a possible match and prepare your observations for Colorado Plants & Practical Care.

Delphinium nuttallianum

Native Colorado wildflower; grazing and ingestion hazard. C-routt-guide

Serious livestock and pet poisoning hazard. Exposure help.

Identification caveat: This profile focuses on Delphinium nuttallianum. Other larkspurs differ in appearance and alkaloid content. Genus-level pet warnings are clearly marked; cattle exposure amounts are not transferred to pets.

Still researching this plant

This is a sourced working profile. Evidence is incomplete for People. Identification and source-photo limits are explained below. Independent botanical and veterinary review is pending. Uncertainty is not a finding that the plant is safe.

Three views of this plant

Source-identified reference photographs; these are not a complete identification key. A source location outside Colorado does not establish local occurrence.

Delphinium nuttallianum: A patch of low blue-flowered larkspur growing among stones and dry leaf litter. — **flowering patch** — A patch of low blue-flowered larkspur growing among stones and dry leaf litter.
NPS · Public domain
Photo source and identification
Original record · Original image
Source scientific identification plus visual morphology review of the selected photograph. This is a source-identified reference, not a specimen-based taxonomic determination. Identification follows the exact source species, Delphinium nuttallianum; Delphinium nuttallii and other larkspurs were not substituted. Similar species require a full botanical key.
Wikimedia server-resized derivative; no crop, colour change or generative editing. Gallery display preserves the full image; the catalog preview uses a CSS crop.

Delphinium nuttallianum: Close view of blue sepals, a long spur, and pale central petals. — **flower detail** — Close view of blue sepals, a long spur, and pale central petals.
Walter Siegmund (talk) · CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo source and identification
Original record · Original image
Source scientific identification plus visual morphology review of the selected photograph. This is a source-identified reference, not a specimen-based taxonomic determination. Identification follows the exact source species, Delphinium nuttallianum; Delphinium nuttallii and other larkspurs were not substituted. Similar species require a full botanical key.
Wikimedia server-resized derivative; no crop, colour change or generative editing. Gallery display preserves the full image; the catalog preview uses a CSS crop.

Delphinium nuttallianum: A slender flowering stem rising from low divided foliage in mixed grassy vegetation. — **whole plant** — A slender flowering stem rising from low divided foliage in mixed grassy vegetation.
Walter Siegmund (talk) · CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo source and identification
Original record · Original image
Source scientific identification plus visual morphology review of the selected photograph. This is a source-identified reference, not a specimen-based taxonomic determination. Identification follows the exact source species, Delphinium nuttallianum; Delphinium nuttallii and other larkspurs were not substituted. Similar species require a full botanical key.
Wikimedia server-resized derivative; no crop, colour change or generative editing. Gallery display preserves the full image; the catalog preview uses a CSS crop.

Recognize

Low-growing spring larkspurs have blue spurred flowers and finely divided leaves. ARS-larkspur

Evidence scope: Larkspur-group morphology; use a species key.

Plants & habitat

Routt County records low larkspur in meadows, woodlands and sagebrush slopes. C-routt-guide

People

The reviewed sources do not establish species-specific ingestion effects or a safe exposure amount for people. Missing evidence does not establish safety.

Dogs & cats

ASPCA lists Delphinium species as toxic to dogs and cats. Alkaloids can disrupt nerve and muscle function; suspected ingestion needs prompt veterinary attention. A-larkspur

Evidence scope: Genus-level warning; no species-specific pet threshold.

Other animals

Larkspur is a major cattle-poisoning concern. All parts are toxic; severity varies with species, growth stage and conditions. ARS-larkspur

Evidence scope: Larkspur-group evidence.

Before taking action

Confirm identification and the requirements of your county weed program. For chemical treatment, follow the current product label, including restrictions around animals and water. S27

References

C-routt-guide — Routt County Weed Identification Guide, Routt County / Colorado State University Extension. Accessed 2026-09-07T01:14:14+00:00. Locator: Common weeds and poisonous plants; 2021 edition.
ARS-larkspur — Larkspur (Delphinium spp.), USDA Agricultural Research Service. Accessed 2026-09-07T01:34:00+00:00. Locator: Species descriptions, occurrence and hazard sections; food preparation and treatment instructions not adopted.
A-larkspur — Larkspur — Delphinium species, ASPCA Poison Control. Accessed 2026-09-07T01:34:00+00:00. Locator: Species descriptions, occurrence and hazard sections; food preparation and treatment instructions not adopted.
S27 — 2103 – Colorado Noxious Weeds, PlantTalk Colorado · CSU Extension. Accessed 2026-09-07T00:23:57+00:00. Locator: List A, B and C management categories.

Content revised 2026-09-07 02:43:00Z · Source checks dated separately in the references.