Larkspur or Delphinium Consolida Fancy Purple Picotee
When we think of an English cottage garden we see roses and Larkspur. Delphinium, also known as Larkspur grows these super tall spikes with eye-catching flowers. This purple variety is soft purple to blue with a lighter center and darker edges on the petals. Flowers attract lots of insects. If you like to grow your own summer bouquet this is definitely a variety you will like!

Planting information to grow larkspur from seed:
Plant type: hardy annual
Height: 100-120 centimeters
Position: full sun or partial sun
Start: in autumn and spring
Number of days until plants bloom: 110-120 days
Germination: 3-4 weeks, cold stratification needed
Distance between the plants: 20 to 30 centimeters
Pruning: not necessary
Number of seeds per pack: 100

How to grow Larkspur from seed?
Larkspur or Delphinium needs a period of cold weather to wake up. This is also known as the cold stratification. You can sow the seeds in the autumn in a greenhouse or sheltered spot outside. The fluctuation of the temperature will start the germination. You can also take some seeds from the packages and put them in the freezer or fridge for three weeks and then sow the seeds into seed trays. Never use a heat mat to germinate the seeds. Since the seeds are hardy annuals you could direct sow the seeds in the autumn but the plants don’t like humid, rainy weather and soggy soil. therefore we did not direct-sow seeds in our climate (The Netherlands). We use the fridge method and then place the seed tray in our greenhouse or outside with a cover to protect the seeds from heavy rain. Seeds can be slow to germinate so don’t give up too soon. The seeds we sell have been tested for quality and have a high germination rate. Since seeds can be more challenging to germinate we add two seeds per cell.

Once the plants have outgrown their cells pot them on. Use high-quality compost and liquid feed if needed because Larkspur is a hungry type. You can plant out your plants in spring. Add additional compost and support the plants with netting or other support material. Once the plants are flowering some additional plant food is recommended. Cut back dead flowers to support new flower growth.

Larkspur is a fantastic cut flower. Cut the stems when about one-third of the flowers have opened and remove most of the foliage. You can also dry the stems for use in dry flower arrangements.