Larkspur is one of those classic cottage‑garden beauties — tall, airy spires that bring height, colour and a bit of old‑fashioned romance to borders. They pair perfectly with roses, peonies, lupins and verbascums, and while blue is the colour everyone thinks of, you’ll also find them in mauve, pink, white and even rich reds. Flowers can be single or double depending on the variety, and the single forms are especially loved by bees.

Although “larkspur” is often used as a catch‑all name, the annual types we grow from seed are Consolida, part of the Ranunculaceae family (the same family as delphiniums, but not the same plant).

The easiest way to grow them is to sow where you want them to flower — either in spring, or in late summer/early autumn for overwintering. Sow the seeds about 3mm deep in rows spaced 30cm apart, into well‑prepared soil that’s been raked to a fine tilth. Once the seedlings are up, thin them to around 20cm apart. Larkspur grows best in full sun and in deep, rich soil that stays moist but drains well.