Consolida
con-SOE-lih-dah. Buttercup family, Ranunculaceae.
Commonly called larkspurs and once included in the genus Delphinium, the 40 species of Consolida are annuals from southeastern Europe and the Mediterranean to central Asia. They bear feathery, deeply cut leaves and spikelike clusters of spurred flowers. One species is a popular annual.
How to Grow
Larkspurs prefer full sun to very light shade and average to rich, well-drained soil. In areas with cool summers, they bloom through much of the growing season, but in the South they provide spring and early-summer bloom, then die out in summer heat and humidity.
Sow seeds outdoors in fall or in spring beginning as soon as the soil can be worked to about two weeks before the last spring frost date. Repeated sowings at three-week intervals lengthen the bloom season. Barely cover the seeds with soil, as darkness is required for germination. Outdoor sowing is generally best, but if you want earlier bloom, try sowing indoors in individual pots 8 to 10 weeks before the last frost date. Set the sown pots in the refrigerator for two weeks before moving them to a warmer (50° to 55°F) spot for germination, which takes two to three weeks.
Transplant with care. Stake tall cultivars with twiggy brush or let them lean on their neighbors. Water during dry weather. Deadhead to prolong bloom, but let some flowers set seeds, because plants self-sow. Use larkspur in mixed beds and borders and cottage gardens. The flowers, which attract hummingbirds, are excellent for cutting and/or drying; tall cultivars are best for these uses. For fresh use, cut just as the lowest blooms on the stalk open. To dry, harvest before the entire spike has opened and hang in bundles in a warm, dry, dark place.
C. ajacis p. (pictured above)
c. ah-JAY-kis. Larkspur, Annual Delphinium. Formerly C. ambigua.
Ferny, palmate leaves on 1- to 4-foot plants. Bears branched or unbranched 0.5- to 2-foot-long flower spikes packed with 1.5-inch wide flowers in shades of blue, violet, lavender, white and pink. Imperial Series plants are 2 to 3 feet tall and available in separate colors. Dwarf Rocket and Dwarf Hyacinth Series plants range from 1 to 2 feet tall. Cool-weather annual.
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The above copyrighted information is adapted with permission from the "Taylor’s Guide to Annuals: How to select and grow more than 400 annuals, biennials, and tender perennials," (Houghton Mifflin, 1999, softcover) written by Barbara W. Ellis and published by the Houghton Mifflin Company. The Exclusive Online Only Author's Note comes directly from Ellis and is not included in the book.
Ellis is also the author of "Taylor's Guide to Growing North America's Favorite Plants: A detailed, how-to-grow guide to selecting, planting, and caring for the best classic plants." (Houghton Mifflin, 1998, softcover). Country Living magazine called this comprehensive reference "The 'must-have' gardening book of the year."
For more information about these books, please visit your local bookseller.
Images provided by Houghton Mifflin Company.