Flower profile

Dwarf larkspur

Delphinium tricorne

Native in the lower 48

Dwarf larkspur is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 7 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in March–May.

21states

7of our state lists

12,207U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, West Virginia

Quick look

Delphinium tricorne, known by the common names dwarf larkspur or spring larkspur, is a species of flowering plant in the Ranunculaceae (buttercup) family. It is native to the central and eastern United States, where it is the most common Delphinium found.
From Wikipedia's article Delphinium tricorne, CC BY-SA 4.0.

It belongs to the Ranunculaceae family. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 21 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
In Kentucky, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in March–May. ^iNaturalist
In Ohio, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–May. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 2,469 research-grade sightings of it in Kentucky, ranking #7 among the 110 flowers on our Kentucky list. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 1,874 research-grade sightings of it in Ohio, ranking #93 among the 109 flowers on our Ohio list. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 1,770 research-grade sightings of it in Tennessee, ranking #65 among the 112 flowers on our Tennessee list. ^iNaturalist

Dwarf larkspur gift ideas

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When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (1,862 records)

Bloom time in each of our 7 states

State	Type	Peak bloom	Sightings*
Kentucky	Native	March–May	2,469
Ohio	Native	April–May	1,874
Tennessee	Native	March–May	1,770
Missouri	Native	April–May	1,158
Indiana	Native	April–May	1,085
Arkansas	Native	March–May	596
West Virginia	Native	March–May	450

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA): Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. ^{USFWS ECOS}
NatureServe global: G5 Secure worldwide. ^NatureServe
Kentucky: Not listed Not on Kentucky endangered and threatened plant lists (400 KAR 3:040, eff. 2026). NatureServe: S5, secure in Kentucky. ^{400 KAR 3:040}
Ohio: Not listed Not on Ohio endangered and threatened plants (Ohio Adm. Code 1501:18-1-03, eff. Dec. 26, 2024). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Ohio. ^{OAC 1501:18-1-03}
Tennessee: Not listed Not on Tennessee endangered plants (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0400-06-02-.04, Rare Plant Protection and Conservation Act). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Tennessee. ^{TN rule 0400-06-02-.04}
Missouri: Not listed Not on Missouri Wildlife Code endangered species (3 CSR 10-4.111), plants. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Missouri. ^{3 CSR 10-4.111}
Indiana: No list Indiana has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (the DNR keeps a rare plant list, but it isn't regulatory), so we show NatureServe's Indiana ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Indiana.
Arkansas: No list Arkansas has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Arkansas ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Arkansas.
West Virginia: No list West Virginia has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (only federally listed species are protected), so we show NatureServe's West Virginia ranks instead. NatureServe: S5, secure in West Virginia.
Rare elsewhere: Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: DC (SH), GA (S2), MS (S2), SC (S1). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleCaution: partly edible, partly poisonous

NC State Extension lists it as poisonous to humans (severity: high). Poisonous parts: flowers, leaves, seeds, stems. Symptoms they list: “Burning of lips and mouth, numbness of throat; intense vomiting and diarrhea, muscular weakness and spasms, weak pulse, paralysis of the respiratory system, convulsions; may be fatal if eaten. Unless there is a lack of suitable forage, horses typically do not…” They also note: “Poisonous” ^{NC State Extension}

For petsToxic to dogs, cats and horses

ASPCA's entry “Larkspur” (Delphinium species), which covers the whole genus, lists it as toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Signs include: Unless there is a lack of suitable forage, horses typically do not consume toxic amounts of larkspur. The toxicity of the plant may vary depending on seasonal changes and field conditions; as the… ^ASPCA

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records dwarf larkspur in 21 states plus Washington, D.C.

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recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia; District of Columbia.

Kentucky counties with USDA records: Adair, Allen, Anderson, Barren, Bath, Bell, Boone, Bourbon, Bracken, Breckinridge, Bullitt, Calloway, Campbell, Carlisle, Carroll, Carter, Casey, Clark, Crittenden, Cumberland, Edmonson, Estill, Fayette, Fleming, Franklin, Gallatin, Garrard, Grant, Grayson, Green, Greenup, Harlan, Harrison, Hart, Henderson, Henry, Hickman, Jackson, Jefferson, Jessamine, Kenton, Lewis, Lincoln, Lyon, Madison, Marshall, Mason, McCracken, McCreary, McLean, Meade, Menifee, Mercer, Metcalfe, Morgan, Nelson, Nicholas, Oldham, Owen, Pendleton, Powell, Pulaski, Rockcastle, Rowan, Scott, Shelby, Spencer, Todd, Trimble, Union, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Whitley, Wolfe, Woodford.

Ohio counties with USDA records: Adams, Athens, Belmont, Butler, Carroll, Clark, Clermont, Clinton, Columbiana, Coshocton, Darke, Fairfield, Fayette, Franklin, Gallia, Greene, Guernsey, Hamilton, Hancock, Harrison, Highland, Hocking, Jackson, Jefferson, Lawrence, Licking, Madison, Mahoning, Marion, Medina, Meigs, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Morrow, Muskingum, Perry, Pickaway, Pike, Ross, Tuscarawas, Vinton, Warren, Washington, Wayne.

Tennessee counties with USDA records: Anderson, Bedford, Benton, Blount, Cannon, Carter, Cheatham, Claiborne, Clay, Cocke, Coffee, Davidson, Decatur, Dickson, Franklin, Giles, Grainger, Grundy, Hamblen, Hamilton, Hancock, Hardin, Hawkins, Hickman, Houston, Jackson, Knox, Lincoln, Loudon, Macon, Marion, Maury, Meigs, Montgomery, Overton, Perry, Putnam, Roane, Robertson, Rutherford, Scott, Sevier, Smith, Stewart, Sullivan, Sumner, Union, Van Buren, Warren, Wayne, Weakley, Williamson.

More Kentucky flowers

Lesser celandine

Ficaria verna

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Rue anemone

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Red columbine

Aquilegia canadensis

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🌼 Blooms in KY: April–May

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile DETR.
iNaturalist, Delphinium tricorne: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Delphinium tricorne (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
Kentucky: Kentucky endangered and threatened plant lists (400 KAR 3:040, eff. 2026).
Kentucky: Kentucky noxious weeds and invasive plants on state rights-of-way (KRS 176.051; species list from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet).
Ohio: Ohio endangered and threatened plants (Ohio Adm. Code 1501:18-1-03, eff. Dec. 26, 2024).
Ohio: Ohio invasive plant species (Ohio Adm. Code 901:5-30-01).
Tennessee: Tennessee endangered plants (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0400-06-02-.04, Rare Plant Protection and Conservation Act).
Tennessee: Tennessee Pest Plant List (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0080-06-24-.02).
Missouri: Missouri Wildlife Code endangered species (3 CSR 10-4.111), plants.
Missouri: Missouri noxious weed list (2 CSR 70-45.005).
Indiana: Indiana prohibited invasive terrestrial plants (312 IAC 18-3-25).
Arkansas: Arkansas State Plant Board noxious weeds and prohibited plants (2 CAR § 50-101).
West Virginia: West Virginia noxious weeds (W. Va. Code R. § 61-14A-5) (the rule abbreviates some names (e.g. “P. cuspidatum”); we expand them to match).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Delphinium tricorne (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: NC State Extension; ASPCA.
Photo: Clay Gibbons via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.