The flower of the Larkspur is complex in that it consists of both petal and sepal. The flowers are of an irregular shape climbing vertically along the upper portion of the main stalk.

The larkspur is a member of the buttercup family and has two varieties named Baker’s Larkspur and Yellow Larkspur, which are considered to be an endangered species in parts of the USA.

The flowers of the larkspur plant come in many colors violet, red, white, and pink They are often used as cutflowers for display, especially the varieties Consolida ambigua and Consolida orientalis.

Larkspur starts to bloom in the early spring, they are annual plants and are highly susceptible to frost, seeds must be sown after the risk of frost has disappeared. The flowers when used as cutflowers and placed in a vase will only last for about 7 days due to their fragility and short life.

The plant does not like transplanting so it is better to plant the seeds directly into their planned growing position, about 8 inches apart in springtime. During the growing period, keep the soil moist, and do not allow it to dry out. Apply a dressing of compost or mulch around the plants to retain moisture.

Larkspur produces the best blooms along its stem in cool summers so locate the plant in fairly shaded places and when established staking the plant may be necessary to prevent breakage. The rhizomes which will develop can be divided and separated from the parent plant to add to other places in the garden.

Larkspur is poisonous to some animals, especially cattle, it contains toxic alkaloids in its stem and seeds. It does not affect sheep however and farmers will often use sheep to clear cattle grazing land of the Larkspur plant

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