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Living Conditions - Woodlandsc and/or mountains, does well in cool summers
Regions - North Central & Eastern Central U.S.A
Food Chain - Poison to animals and humans, pollinated by bees

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Phonetic Spelling

del-FIN-ee-um eks-all-TAY-tum

This plant has high severity poison characteristics.

Description

Tall larkspur is a herbaceous perennial in the Ranunculaceae (buttercup) family that is native to the central and eastern USA. In NC it is found mostly in the mountains in clearings or the edge of woodlands. The genus name Delphinium comes from the Greek word delphis or dolphin a nod to the shape of the flower bud and the species name exaltatum means tall. The common name larkspur references the shape of one of the back petals of the flower, an elongated nectary, resembling the shape of a lark's claw.

This plant grows up to 6 feet tall and grows from rhizomes. It prefers cool summers and doesn't do well in high humidity. Plant in fertile moist well-drained soils in full sun. It locations with hot summers, it appreciates some afternoon shade.

The tall flowering stem has many blue to purple and occasionally white flowers in clusters from July to Sept. that attract bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. This delphinium blooms later and has more lush foliage than other members of the genus.

Use in a cottage garden, borders or native gardens. Looks great in groups or mass planted.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Problems: Slugs and snails, aphids, leafminers, stem borers, and spider mites are occasional insect pests. Diseases are powdery mildew, botrytis blight, leaf spots, and crown rot. Staking may be required for taller plants.

See this plant in the following landscape:

Cultivars / Varieties:

Tags:

#hummingbirds#poisonous#white flowers#purple flowers#native perennials#blue flowers#slopes#cottage garden#mass planting#NC native#border planting#cutting garden#pollinator plant#wildflower garden#naturalized area#border middle#small group plantings#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#meadows#woodland garden

Cultivars / Varieties:

Tags:

#hummingbirds#poisonous#white flowers#purple flowers#native perennials#blue flowers#slopes#cottage garden#mass planting#NC native#border planting#cutting garden#pollinator plant#wildflower garden#naturalized area#border middle#small group plantings#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#meadows#woodland garden

Flowers:
Flower Color:

Purple/Lavender

Flower Inflorescence:

Flower Value To Gardener:

Flower Bloom Time:

Flower Shape:

Flower Petals:

4-5 petals/rays

Colored Sepals

Flower Description:

Dense, narrow cluster of numerous lavender-blue flowers and occasionally white flowers on the terminal stem. 5 petal-like sepals with one curved backward to create a spur and 4 smaller petals. The 2 lower petals may have whitish hairs. Blooms July to Sept.

Leaves:
Leaf Color:

Leaf Type:

Leaf Arrangement:

Leaf Shape:

Rhomboidal

Leaf Margin:

Hairs Present:

Leaf Description:

The lower stem leaves are on long stalks and divided into 5 parts, with each part having 3 to 7 lobes. These leaves are roundish in shape. The mid-stem leaves have fewer lobes and shorter stalks. There are no leaves in the upper 1/5 of the stem.

Poisonous to Humans:
Poison Severity:

Poison Symptoms:

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 consume toxic amounts of larkspur. The toxicity of the plant may vary depending on seasonal changes and field conditions; as the plant matures, it generally becomes less toxic. Clinical effects include constipation, colic, increased salivation, stiffness, weakness, recumbency, and convulsions. Cardiac failure may occur, as can death from respiratory paralysis.

Poison Toxic Principle:

Alkaloids delphinine, ajacine, and others.

Causes Contact Dermatitis:

Poison Part:

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Phonetic Spelling del-FIN-ee-um eks-all-TAY-tum This plant has high severity poison characteristics. Description Tall larkspur is a herbaceous perennial in the Ranunculaceae (buttercup) family that is native to the central and eastern USA. In NC it is found mostly in the mountains in clearings or the edge of woodlands.

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Living Conditions - Water temperatures between 40-55 degrees, freshwater streams or lakes
Regions - Northern America
Food Chain - Apex predator

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Common Name - Band-winged meadowhawk
Living Conditions - Shallow ponds and marshes.
Regions - Most of North America, never found in Deep South.
Food Chain - Feed on small water insects and fish

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This is NOT the actual plant name. This was the closest aquatic plant I could find to the one in the image.

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Common Name - Red hair algae
Living Conditions - Moderate amount of light. Close to surface
Regions - Rarely found in fresh water.
Food Chain - food to fish and crabs

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Living Conditions - Freshwater of ponds, lakes, swamps, ditches, creeks, streams, and rivers.
Regions - North America
Food Chain - They eat land insects that often fall into the water

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Source: https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=zebra+mussel&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8
http://www.biokids.umich.edu/critters/Lithobates_clamitans/
Living Conditions - "inland waters, including swamps, wooded swamps, ponds, lakes, marshes, bogs, banks of slow moving rivers and streams, sloughs, and impoundments." -Bio Kids' Critter Catolog
Regions - United States and Canada
Food Chain - Water and land insects, butterflies, slugs, worms, flies, and spiders.

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Common Name - Wild Blueberries
Living Conditions - Cold, harsh climates. Moist soil. Full sun.
Regions - Oregon, Washington, Georgia, Michigan, California, New Jersey, North Carolina, Florida, Texas, and Minnesota
Food Chain - Food source high in vitamins, minerals, micronutrients, and fiber

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Wild Berries closeup

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Common Name - Zebra Mussel
Living Conditions - Freshwater lakes
Regions - Ukraine and Russia
Food Chain - Invasive. They filter out algae, which native species rely on for food, and they attach to native mussels.

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Common Name - Wild Mint
Living Conditions - Near sandy waterfronts or damp woods
Regions - Northern Michigan
Food Chain - Used for both medicine and flavor in beverages.

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Common Name - Western Honey Bees
Living Conditions - gardens, woodlands, orchards, meadows and other areas where flowering plants are abundant. Honey bees build nests inside tree cavities and under edges of objects to hide themselves from predators.
Regions - Europe, Africa, and the Middle East
Food Chain - Honey bees produce the food we eat through pollination

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Zebra Mussel Full shot