Scarlet Larkspur
Delphinium cardinale
Unlike many larkspurs which are blue or purple, this species evolved red pigment specifically to attract hummingbirds, who see red more vividly than bees.
- Scientific name
- Delphinium cardinale
- Taxonomy
- Plantae › Tracheophyta › Magnoliopsida › Ranunculales › Ranunculaceae › Delphinium
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- grassland
- Habitat
- Chaparral, coastal sage scrub, and dry rocky slopes below 1,500 meters.
- Diet
- Sunlight (Photosynthesis), soil minerals, and water.
- Range
- California, Baja California
- Size
- Up to 2 meters in height
- Lifespan
- 3-7 years (Perennial)
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Urban development, invasive grass species, and altered fire regimes.
- Safe to approach?
- Defensive. Harmless to touch, but dangerous if ingested. If skin irritation occurs, wash with soap. If ingested by humans or pets, seek immediate medical or veterinary help as it contains toxic alkaloids.
Delphinium cardinale is a species of larkspur known by the common names scarlet larkspur and cardinal larkspur . This wildflower is native to California and Baja California, where it grows on coastal, inland, and desert chaparral slopes, such as the Colorado Desert, and the Peninsular and Transverse Ranges. The presence of diterpenoid alkaloids, probably including the highly toxic methyllycaconitine, in the above-ground parts of D. cardinale plants means that they are likely to be toxic.
Photo: Joe Decruyenaere, CC-BY-SA, via iNaturalist
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