Common names: LARKSPUR, WILD-DELPHINIUM Arizona desert: (Delphinium scaposum). Royal blue. March-May. California desert: (Delphinium parishi) Sky blue. Spring. Texas desert: (Delphinium carolinianum). Blue. Spring. Crowfoot family. Size: Up to 2 feet in height.
Desert Larkspurs are low-growing, spring or early summer-flowering in habit, often occurring in colonies, and frequently intermingle with other spring flowers thereby adding their blue to the colorful tapestry of ground cover. They are readily recognized because of their resemblance to the cultivated varieties called Delphiniums, and because of the tubular extension or “spur.” D. amabile is the most drought-resistant of all southwestern species and may blossom in the desert as early as February.
Because they contain delphinine and other toxic alkaloids, Larkspurs are poisonous to livestock, particularly sheep. On the desert, the plants are small and bear few but beautiful blossoms. They prefer open, gravelly soil.
It is reported that the Hopi Indians grind Larkspur blossoms with corn to produce blue meal.
BLUE
Dalea mollis
Dalea spinosa
Dalea formosa
Common names: SMOKETREE, INDIGOBUSH, PEABUSH Arizona and California deserts: (Dalea spinosa). Blue-violet. April-June. Texas deserts: (Dalea formosa). Purple. March-June. Pea family. Size: Up to 10 or 12 feet tall.
Famous, although not common, throughout the frostless areas of the desert, the Smoketree, because of its gray-green, leafless, plume-like growth resembles at a distance a gray cloud of smoke hovering over a desert campfire. When in flower, in May or June, it is one of the handsomest of desert shrubs. It is always found in the bed of a sandy wash where it obtains moisture from runoff following summer showers or winter rains.