Hur samlar du larkspur
Larkspur, a cousin to the perennial Delphinium, offers that same English country garden appeal in a more compact flower. The spike-shaped flower is the perfect size to slip into bouquets for that wild flower look that we love so much at the farm. Learn how to grow Larkspur, a hardy annual flower that will bring lots of joy! Larkspur, also known by its scientific name Consolida ajacis, is related to the perennial Delphinium.
Larkspur Growing And Care Guide
The name Larkspur is a common name that is shared between different species of both the genus Consolida annual and the genus Delphinium perennial. The annual Larkspur has a similar appearance to the perennial Delphinium, however the blooms are smaller and more refined. It fits nicely in flower arrangements and is a very popular plant for cut flowers.
The foliage of annual Larkspur is also different to the perennial Delphinium, and it is more fine and feathery than the more solid Delphinium leaf. The key to successfully growing Larkspur is to germinate the seeds using the right stratification techniques. As well Larkspur will also require a period of growth in cooler temperatures for good flower production. Larkspur are hardy annuals.
The seeds of hardy annuals, just like perennials, often require a special process to breakdown the hard outer seed coats.
How To Grow Larkspur In The Garden
These seed coats prevent the plants from germinating during the cold winter months, and are necessary for survival. If you are attempt to grow Larkspur indoors during the winter, you will likely have difficulty germinating the seeds without using stratification techniques. The seedlings do better in a cool space, and the plants will bloom much better if exposed to cooler temperatures for the first six weeks of growth.
We harden off the seedlings whenever we are able, and Larkspur are some of the first seedlings that we put out in the spring. While outside they will continue to be exposed to the cool weather and experience that cool period that they require for flowering. Companion plants that go well with Larkspur are those grown in similar soil types and during the Larkspur bloom time. Anything that grows in a cottage garden will compliment Larkspur, both in the garden and in the vase.
They also grow well with other hardy annuals such as Bachelor Buttons , Agrostemma, and Ammi , which we grow along with the Larkspur. All Larkspurs are poisonous plants , and care should be taken around young children and animals. All parts of the plants are poisonous, including the flowers and the leaves. Even the seeds are poisonous. Larkspur is not considered to be a cut and come again type flower.
Remove the spent blooms by cutting them off down at the base. This will allow the plant to use the energy for further bloom development rather than for seed production. I hope that you found this post on how to grow Larkspur in the garden helpful. Any questions or comments are always welcome! Cheyanne Mullin is an experienced gardener and flower farmer, growing in zone 5b, Nova Scotia, Canada.
A practicing gardener for over 30 years, she retired from a career in nursing to grow flowers on a larger scale. A hybridizer of daylilies and daylily seeds for over 15 years, you can find her under the handle "Maya"on the Lily Auction. Cheyanne is the seed planter, seed collector, flower grower, bouquet maker, photographer and voice behind Farmhouse and Blooms, a gardening blog that teaches about growing flowers for the garden and cut flowers.
How to Grow and Care for Larkspur
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