Leaves alternate and are divided into deep, narrow lobes. The stem is hollow. They grow in mountain meadows on sites where deep snowdrifts persist well into the growing season, under aspens on north-facing slopes, along streams, or around seeps and springs. Tall larkspurs begin growing as soon as the snow melts, but at the upper limits of their distribution this may not occur until July. They begin growing in early spring, often before other forage begins growth.
Low larkspurs are most palatable to cattle after flowering.
Plains larkspurs are found primarily on the high plains of Colorado, Wyoming, and New Mexico. Cattle may eat plains larkspurs at any stage of growth. Both low and plains larkspurs begin growing in early spring, often before grasses start their spring flush of growth. Under these conditions, larkspur may be the only green herbage available to cattle. How It Affects Livestock Larkspur causes heavy cattle losses in western range states.