When I experienced my first summer living in the foothills altitude of Colorado, the wildflower display dazzled me. From the early spring crocus to the late summer liatris, I was dazzled. One of the flowers I found most beautiful was the wild larkspur, its intense blue a brilliant flash of color in mid summer that was perfectly complemented by the bright orange of Indian Paintbrush.
That was before I had alpacas.
Now when I see that pop of blue it evokes a totally different response. For all larkspur (prairie, tall, dwarf) is poisonous – not just to alpacas, but livestock in general. It is high in alkaloids, which attack the nervous system and result in paralysis as the muscles fail. The first symptoms are evident within a few hours: muscle fatigue, leading to tremors and difficulty breathing, followed by collapse. If toxic levels are ingested, larkspur can result in rapid death.
Like many poisonous plants, larkspur is at its most dangerous during early growth. Once it blooms, it is at its least – so it’s best to spot them by their distinctive leaves prior to flowering. Although all parts of the plants are poisonous, the seeds are especially toxic. Unfortunately, larkspur is a perennial, with a long tap root that makes hand weeding difficult as a means of permanent eradication. Tordon (picloram) has been used successfully as a selective herbicide. Roundup (glyphosate) can also be used for spot treatment, but is most effective in early growth, less so once fully mature.
Although I have only seen blue larkspur here, prairie larkspur can be much lighter in color. The leaves, however, are the commonality for all species so it’s best to get well acquainted with their deeply lobed shape.
Leave a comment