The illustrated growing guide
Larkspur
Consolida ajacis
Family Ranunculaceae
Grown as an annual
The easygoing annual cousin of delphinium — elegant tall spires of true blue, violet, and pink that are a premier cut flower and hold their color beautifully dried. Direct-sow in fall or earliest spring (it needs cold to sprout and blooms before the heat), and it self-sows into a faithful yearly display. Note it's toxic, so keep it away from grazing animals.
Full Sun
Moderate water
Fast growth
Deer-resistant
Attracts butterflies
Attracts bees
None winter chillI
Overview
Will larkspur suit your garden, and what goes wrong.
Will it fruit where you are?
Enter your ZIP — we look up your USDA hardiness zone (2023 map) and check it against what larkspur actually needs.
Life cycleAnnualLarkspur at a glance
Common larkspur problems
- Aphids
- Powdery Mildew (late)
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Growing
Light, water, soil, propagation and the season’s jobs.
How to grow larkspur: light, water & soil
How to plant & propagate larkspur
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The year
What larkspur asks for, month by month.
The larkspur year, month by month
BloomPruneWhat each band means
- Bloom — flowers open — pollinators working, frost on blossoms is the danger.
- Prune — shape it now — cuts heal cleanly and structure is visible.
The larkspur year as text
- Jan quiet month
- Feb quiet month
- Mar pruning
- Apr pruning
- May bloom
- Jun bloom
- Jul quiet month
- Aug quiet month
- Sep pruning
- Oct pruning
- Nov pruning
- Dec quiet month
These are the species' typical months — expect them a few weeks earlier in warm zones and later in cold ones. Watch the plant, not just the calendar.
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Ecology & uses
What it does for the garden, and what it is grown for.
Larkspur in the garden system
- Herbaceous layer annual
- Nectary/insectary
What larkspur is grown for
⚠ Toxic if eatenALL PARTS TOXIC (like its delphinium relatives) — keep from livestock; not for eating
Harvesting & storing larkspur
Ornamental; excellent cut and dried flower (holds color beautifully). About cool-season (spring bloom) from planting.
Edibility, identification, and traditional-use notes here are general reference — not medical or veterinary advice, and not a claim that any plant treats or prevents anything. Medicinal ratings record how strongly a plant features in herbal tradition, nothing more. Never eat or dose a plant you have not positively identified. More on how to use this library.
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Cultivars
Named varieties of larkspur, ruled as a catalogue.
Best larkspur varieties & cultivars
'Giant Imperial' (tall); 'QIS' series (cutting); 'Sublime' mixes
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Sources & plant ID
Where the care distinctions come from, and how the plant is filed.
Research basis
Sources behind this profile
No extension citations are attached to larkspuryet. The care figures below come from the library's own catalogue rather than a traced primary source.
Plant ID
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Where to buy
Third-party nurseries — not Story Thyme Farms.
Third-party nurseries, not Story Thyme Farms. Prices are theirs.
Story Thyme Farms may earn a small commission from these links, at no cost to you — it never changes what we recommend.
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Questions
Larkspur questions, answered straight.
Do deer eat larkspur?
Rarely — larkspur is considered deer-resistant, which makes it one of the safer unfenced choices in deer country. Hungry deer in a hard winter test every rule, but it's a low-risk pick.
Is larkspur safe for kids and pets?
No — treat it as toxic if eaten. ALL PARTS TOXIC (like its delphinium relatives) — keep from livestock; not for eating Site it accordingly if children or pets roam the garden. This is general reference, not medical or veterinary advice — call a vet or poison control if something has actually been eaten.
When do you harvest larkspur?
Ornamental; excellent cut and dried flower (holds color beautifully). From planting, expect about cool-season (spring bloom) to maturity.
How do you propagate larkspur?
From seed.
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Elsewhere
Where larkspur sits in the library.
Sunflower
Zinnia
Peony
Daylily