Larkspur ‘Smokey Eyes’

Consolida ajacis (previously classified as Delphinium consolida)

Features

  • Dryable
  • Easy to grow
  • Medium producer
  • Toxic

Description

‘Smokey Eyes’ looks delicate and antique with its icy pale lavender petals delicately edged with green. This sister to ‘Earl Grey’ is as healthy and productive as any larkspur we’ve grown. One of the easiest cut flowers to grow, larkspur is cold-tolerant and early to bloom, adding tall, colorful spikes to spring gardens.

Please note: All parts of larkspur are poisonous, including the seeds. Use caution around children and pets.

Details

Plant type: hardy annual
Height: 36 to 48 in
Site: full sun
Days to maturity: 110 to 120 days
Plant spacing: 9 in
Pinch: not necessary

Seed Sowing & Growing Notes

Plants do best when sown directly into the garden. Direct-seed in late fall or early spring or start seed indoors in trays 6 to 8 weeks before last frost and transplant out while the weather is still cool. Seed can be tricky to start indoors, so pop seeds into the freezer for 10 to 14 days before sowing to speed up germination. Cold-tolerant, larkspur can be planted in the fall in even the coldest corners of the world.

Harvesting/Vase Life

Harvest when one-third of the blossoms are open on a stem. Larkspur is extremely ethylene sensitive; keep it away from ripening fruit. Expect a vase life of 5 to 7 days. To dry, let all but the top 3 to 4 blooms open, then pick and hang upside down in a warm, dark place out of bright light for 2 weeks.

Details

Description

‘Smokey Eyes’ looks delicate and antique with its icy pale lavender petals delicately edged with green. This sister to ‘Earl Grey’ is as healthy and productive as any larkspur we’ve grown. One of the easiest cut flowers to grow, larkspur is cold-tolerant and early to bloom, adding tall, colorful spikes to spring gardens.

Please note: All parts of larkspur are poisonous, including the seeds. Use caution around children and pets.

Details

Plant type: hardy annual
Height: 36 to 48 in
Site: full sun
Days to maturity: 110 to 120 days
Plant spacing: 9 in
Pinch: not necessary

Seed Sowing & Growing Notes

Plants do best when sown directly into the garden. Direct-seed in late fall or early spring or start seed indoors in trays 6 to 8 weeks before last frost and transplant out while the weather is still cool. Seed can be tricky to start indoors, so pop seeds into the freezer for 10 to 14 days before sowing to speed up germination. Cold-tolerant, larkspur can be planted in the fall in even the coldest corners of the world.

Harvesting/Vase Life

Harvest when one-third of the blossoms are open on a stem. Larkspur is extremely ethylene sensitive; keep it away from ripening fruit. Expect a vase life of 5 to 7 days. To dry, let all but the top 3 to 4 blooms open, then pick and hang upside down in a warm, dark place out of bright light for 2 weeks.

Sources

How to Grow

Fall Mini Course

Learn how to successfully dig, divide & store dahlias for an abundance of blooms year after year

In our free, three-part video series, you’ll learn how and when to dig up your dahlia tuber clumps, how to divide dahlias to multiply your stock, and how to successfully store dahlias for an abundance of blooms year after year.