Upland Larkspur: A Pacific Northwest Native Worth Knowing
Meet upland larkspur (Delphinium nuttallii), a charming native perennial that calls the Pacific Northwest home. While it might not be as well-known as its showier garden cousins, this understated beauty deserves a spot in your native plant vocabulary – and possibly your garden.
What Makes Upland Larkspur Special?
Upland larkspur is a true Pacific Northwest native, found naturally in Oregon and Washington. As a perennial forb (that’s garden-speak for a non-woody flowering plant), it returns year after year to grace your landscape with its distinctive spurred flowers. Like other delphiniums, it produces lovely blue to purple blooms arranged in tall, elegant spikes that add vertical interest to any planting.
Where Does It Grow?
This native beauty has a relatively limited range, growing naturally in Oregon and Washington. It’s perfectly adapted to the unique climate and growing conditions of the Pacific Northwest, making it an excellent choice for gardeners in these areas who want to support local ecosystems.
Garden Role and Design Ideas
Upland larkspur fits beautifully into:
- Native plant gardens
- Wildflower meadows
- Naturalized landscape areas
- Rain gardens (given its facultative upland status)
Its upright growth habit makes it perfect for adding height and structure to plantings, while its native status means it will play well with other Pacific Northwest natives.
Growing Conditions
True to its upland name, this larkspur prefers well-draining soils and typically grows in non-wetland areas, though it can tolerate some moisture. It’s classified as facultative upland in both the Arid West and Western Mountains regions, meaning it’s quite adaptable but prefers drier conditions.
For best results, provide:
- Well-draining soil
- Partial to full sun exposure
- Cool, moist conditions typical of the Pacific Northwest
- Protection from extreme heat
Pollinator and Wildlife Benefits
Like other delphiniums, upland larkspur likely attracts bees, butterflies, and other pollinators with its nectar-rich flowers. By choosing native plants like this one, you’re supporting the complex web of relationships between plants and wildlife that have evolved together over thousands of years.
The Reality Check
Here’s where we need to be honest: upland larkspur isn’t widely available in the nursery trade, and detailed growing information is limited. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing – it just means you might need to do some detective work to source seeds or plants, and you’ll be joining a smaller community of gardeners who appreciate lesser-known natives.
Should You Grow Upland Larkspur?
If you’re in Oregon or Washington and passionate about native plants, upland larkspur could be a wonderful addition to your garden. Its native status means it’s perfectly adapted to your local conditions and will support regional wildlife. However, given its limited availability, you might want to start with more readily available Pacific Northwest natives and keep upland larkspur on your someday list.
Consider it a plant for the dedicated native garden enthusiast – someone who appreciates the quiet beauty of regional specialties and doesn’t mind putting in extra effort to source and grow something truly special.
The Bottom Line
Upland larkspur represents the kind of plant that makes native gardening exciting: a true regional native with ecological value that most gardeners have never heard of. While it might not be the easiest plant to find or grow, it offers the satisfaction that comes with nurturing something genuinely local and supporting the unique character of Pacific Northwest landscapes.
