Dreamcatcher Alpacas
Plant safety · Toxic

Is Larkspur Poisonous to Alpacas?

Larkspur (Delphinium spp.) — a wild / garden plant. Here is what alpaca owners need to know.

Updated 2026-10-02By the Dreamcatcher Alpacas editorial team
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Yes — larkspur is toxic to alpacas.

Keep it out of pastures, hay and reach of fences, and never feed trimmings.

Larkspur (Delphinium spp.)
Larkspur (Delphinium spp.). Photo: Ferdinand Bauer, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons.
Status
Toxic
Scientific name
Delphinium spp.
Family
Ranunculaceae
Plant type
Wild / garden plant
Also known as
Delphinium
Toxic parts
Whole plant; young growth and seed pods most toxic
Toxic compound
Diterpenoid alkaloids (methyllycaconitine)

Why it matters

A leading cause of cattle deaths on western rangeland; camelids should be considered equally at risk.

Signs of larkspur poisoning in alpacas

  • Muscle weakness and trembling
  • Stiff gait, falling
  • Bloat
  • Death from respiratory paralysis

Signs can appear within minutes (cyanide, cardiac toxins) or only after weeks of exposure (liver toxins). Many poisoned camelids are simply found dead, so prevention is everything.

What to do if your alpaca ate larkspur

  1. Move the herd away and remove any remaining plant material, clippings or fallen leaves.
  2. Call your veterinarian immediately, even if the alpaca looks normal. Say what was eaten, roughly how much and when.
  3. Bring a sample or clear photo of the plant to help identification.
  4. Do not give home remedies, oils or try to make the alpaca vomit unless your vet tells you to.
  5. Keep the animal quiet, in shade or shelter, with water available. Write down the time and every symptom you see.
  6. Check every other alpaca that had access, then remove the plant permanently (including roots).

Emergency: call your veterinarian immediately. If you cannot reach them, contact an animal poison control service (in the U.S., the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center or Pet Poison Helpline; fees may apply). Bring a sample or photo of the plant.

About the plant

Delphinium is a genus of about 300 species of annual and perennial flowering plants in the family Ranunculaceae, native throughout the Northern Hemisphere and also on the high mountains of tropical Africa. The genus was erected by Carl Linnaeus.From Wikipedia — “Delphinium”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where it grows

GBIF, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, holds 286,201 recorded observations of Delphinium L. worldwide, including 105,129 in the United States. It belongs to the Ranunculaceae family, together with Monkshood, Clematis, Buttercup. See the occurrence map on GBIF.

Frequently asked questions

Is larkspur poisonous to alpacas?
Yes. Yes — larkspur is toxic to alpacas. A leading cause of cattle deaths on western rangeland; camelids should be considered equally at risk.
What part of larkspur is toxic to alpacas?
Whole plant; young growth and seed pods most toxic.
What are the symptoms of larkspur poisoning?
Muscle weakness and trembling, stiff gait, falling, bloat and death from respiratory paralysis.
Is dried larkspur safe?
Drying does not reliably make poisonous plants safe. Treat dried leaves and contaminated hay with the same caution.

Keeping pastures safe

  • Walk every paddock and fence line each season and remove toxic plants, including roots.
  • Never throw garden, hedge or lawn clippings over the fence.
  • Check pastures after storms for fallen branches (cherry, red maple).
  • Buy hay from known sources and inspect it for weeds.
  • Keep pastures well managed — hungry alpacas eat plants they would normally avoid.

Browse the full toxic plant checker, the printable list of poisonous plants and the list of safe plants.

This page is educational and does not replace advice from a veterinarian who has examined your animals. Camelid medicine uses many drugs “extra-label”, so dosing must come from your vet. In an emergency, call your vet first. Read our disclaimer · How we write and review content.

Data: plant status compiled from veterinary toxicology references (see sources); taxonomy and occurrences from GBIF; identifiers from Wikidata Q160107.