June 2023

Late spring is a time of transition in the garden. The showy spectacle of springtime bloom is over and the summer annuals have not yet filled in to provide the backdrop of color for the warm months. It’s during this period that larkspur (Consolida ajacis) provides a rich palette of color to fill the void.

Larkspurs are winter annuals closely related to their perennial cousins, the Delphiniums. These tough, easy-to-grow annuals have an erect habit of growth with strong stems growing about 3 feet tall. Larkspur foliage is deeply dissected and lacy.

Flowers are in shades of blue, violet, pink, or white and appear up the stems from mid-May to mid-June.

Three species of larkspurs were introduced into English gardens from Italy between 1550 and 1573. They became instant hits and were frequently used in the first wave of pleasure gardens built during this period. They were introduced into American gardens during the pre-Revolutionary era.

As with most plants grown in gardens during this period, gardeners experimented with them to find medicinal uses. Larkspur was thought to strengthen eyesight, being so effective that even looking at them was said to improve vision. Who would need a better excuse for growing these showy annuals?

Larkspurs are considered easy to grow with some gardeners would even say weedy. They produce copious amounts of seed and can become a permanent part of the garden, reseeding freely each year. Any unwanted seedlings are easily removed or relocated.

Sow seeds of larkspur from September to October for spring bloom. When planting scatter seeds thinly in open areas in a fertile, uniformly moist bed. They must have full sun.

Larkspur is natural for including amongst bulb plantings, as a companion to roses, or in the perennial border where gaps periodically occur. They also make good cut flowers.

The majority of larkspurs at BGO can be found around the vegetable garden. Come soon to enjoy the close of spring and the beginning of summer.

Berni Kurz

Director of Horticulture

Botanical Garden of the Ozarks