Leaf
Hedwig Storch, Wikimedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
Candle larkspur
Delphinium elatum L.
Also known as: Delphinium, Bee larkspur
Family: Ranunculaceae
1 to 1.5 m tall
Mountain meadows and clearings, often on rich soils
Flowering: July – August
Full sun
Hardy to about -20°C
❓ How do you recognise this plant?
The horn-shaped spur at the back of each flower, which recalls a lark's foot, is the origin of its other name, "larkspur".
🍃 Leaves
Palmate, deeply divided into toothed lobes
🌸 Flowers
Violet-blue, in a long upright spike, with a characteristic spur
🍎 Fruits
Elongated follicle containing many small seeds
🪵 Bark
Upright, hollow herbaceous stem, up to 1.5 m
🗺️ Distribution
Mountain ranges of Europe (Alps, Pyrenees); widely grown as a border plant
🐝 Value for pollinators
Flowers very attractive to long-tongued bumblebees, the only ones able to reach the nectar at the bottom of the spur
✂️ Horticultural uses
Perennial border plant highly prized for its tall blue spikes, many garden cultivars
⚠️ Possible toxicity
The whole plant is toxic — contains alkaloids (delphinine) dangerous if ingested
🌿 Other Ranunculaceae to discover
ℹ️ Educational profile — do not use it to judge whether a plant is edible or safe.
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