I have heard the words Larkspur and Delphinium used for the same beautiful cobalt blue flower so I did a little research to find out what the difference is between the two plants. Turns out Larkspur is the “common name” for a species of plants belonging to either the Delphinium or the closely related Consolida genus. Theybelong to the Ranunculaceae family which is made up of some 300 species of annual, biennial and perennial flowering plants. The delphinium is a perennial whereas the consolida is an annual.
If planting from seed they require cooling for several weeks before planting but already established plants are more typically purchased by gardeners. In addition to full sun and well- drained soil they like cool moist climates so do best in early summer here in the upper Midwest. They are a complex flower with blooms covering the color spectrum including white, blue and violet along with red, pink and even yellow. They are irregularly shaped and bloom in a loose vertical grouping along the upper end of the main stalk. Their spikes get fairly tall (2-6 feet) so with our high winds, staking them is probably a good idea. They are often used along with hollyhocks or sunflowers as back borders in flowerbeds or along fences. Medium sized perennials are often planted in front of them to hide staking and companion planting is not limited as few plants are harmed by delphinium, although the leaves are toxic to most critters. They are also great pollinators for birds and butterflies.
Although fragile and short lived, they make excellent cut flowers and as such are highly sought after in flower markets. Last year, I planted one delphinium in my perennial bed which is doing quite well so I planted two more this year which are coming along. They are nowhere near the height of the delphinium in my neighbor’s new bed but she waters religiously and is a former florist. Given my efforts remain experimental, going forward, maybe I will just follow her lead and “do what she does.” Good thing we are friends!