Delphinium consolida

Delphinium consolida — larkspur

Delphinium consolida is the botanical name for larkspur, the airy annual delphinium that gives towers of cottage-garden colour from a simple spring sowing. It is the species behind our larkspur range within the flower seed collection.

History & origin

Larkspur is an old cornfield and cottage-garden flower of Europe and western Asia, long grown for its tall spires and prized by flower arrangers for both fresh and dried use. It has naturalised widely and remains a meadow and border favourite.

The names are evocative: Delphinium comes from the Greek delphis, “dolphin,” for the shape of the flower bud, while consolida derives from the Latin for “to make whole,” a nod to its old use as a healing herb.

Botanical characteristics

A graceful hardy annual, Delphinium consolida sends up branching, feathery-leaved stems topped with slender spikes of spurred flowers in blue, violet, pink, lilac and white. The tall spires are a classic cut flower, holding well fresh and drying beautifully as dried flowers, while the nectar draws in bees as one of our pollinator-friendly flowers.

Growing Delphinium consolida from seed

Larkspur dislikes root disturbance, so sow direct where it is to flower — in autumn in milder areas, or early spring, as the seed germinates best in cool conditions. Give it full sun and free-draining soil, and stake taller types. Our flower growing guide and flower sowing calendar cover the timing.

Ready to grow larkspur? Browse the varieties or learn the basics first.

Related categories: Larkspur · Delphinium · Cut Flowers · Dried Flowers · All Flower Seeds

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