Larkspur
Consolida ajacis
Family Ranunculaceae
All the drama of delphinium with none of the diva — larkspur sends up 2-4 ft spires of true blue, violet, and pink that cut beautifully and, dried, hold their color like almost nothing else. It blooms in the cool season, ahead of the heat, when the border needs vertical most.
Butterflies and bees visit, deer don't, and once established it self-sows into a faithful yearly display. Like its delphinium kin it's a look-don't-eat plant, best kept away from grazing animals — a flower for the vase, not the table. Give the cottage bed its spires.
Full Sun
Moderate water
Fast growth
Deer-resistant
Attracts butterflies
Attracts bees
None winter chill
From the print shop
Growing larkspur? Hang it.
Our Plant Library collection carries larkspur — Consolida ajacis, print Nº 267, “Larkspur.”
526 designsfrom $12.99white or black backgroundmatte poster, unframed
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 · Common problems
Common larkspur problems
Pests
2 problems on file
Diseases
1 problem on file
- Powdery Mildew (late)
Larkspur · Growing & propagation
Growing larkspur
- Light
- Full Sun
- Water
- Moderate
Soil- Rich, well-drained · pH 6.0 - 7.0
Fertilizer- Light
Pruning- Direct-sow in fall/early spring; leave some to self-sow
The annual cottage-garden delphinium — tall elegant spires in true blues, violets, and pinks, one of the best annual cut flowers and superb dried (it keeps its color). Direct-sow on bare soil in fall (mild zones) or as early as the ground can be worked; it needs cold to germinate and blooms before summer heat. Self-sows into a permanent presence. All parts are toxic, so site away from grazing animals.
Spacing- 6-8 in
How to plant & propagate larkspur
Maturity- cool-season
Spring bloom
From seed- Direct-sow fall/earliest spring
Needs cold to germinate
- Propagate
- From seed
Larkspur · Calculators & field guides
A little help in the garden.
Larkspur · Yearly calendar
The larkspur year, month by month
Jan
No calendar activity is listed for this month.
BloomPruneBloomMay to June
PruneMarch to April, then September to November
What 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.
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.
Larkspur · Ecology & uses
Ecology & uses
Consolida ajacis
Larkspur in the garden system
- Herbaceous layer annual
- Nectary/insectary
- Attracts
- Butterflies, Bees
- Moisture
- Facultative / average
- Deer
- Resistant
A safer unfenced choice
Origin- Introduced
What larkspur is grown for
⚠ Toxic if eatenALL PARTS TOXIC (like its delphinium relatives) — keep from livestock; not for eating
Use- Cottage spires
- Use
- Cut/dried flower
- Use
- Self-sowing
- Use
- Cool season
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.
Larkspur · Varieties & cultivars
Choosing a larkspur variety
'Giant Imperial' (tall); 'QIS' series (cutting); 'Sublime' mixes
Sources & plant identity
Know what you’re growing.
See where the knowledge comes from.
Larkspur
Consolida ajacis
The plant, at a glance.
- Botanical name
- Consolida ajacis
- Plant family
- Ranunculaceae
- Growth habit
- Annual
- Origin
- Introduced
- USDA plant symbol
- COAJ
- Invasive risk
- Low
Hardiness, size and timing vary with your cultivar, soil and climate.
Rooted in research.
University extension research, brought together with hands-on growing experience at Story Thyme Farms.
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.
Elsewhere
Where larkspur sits in the library.
Sunflower
Zinnia
Peony
Daylily