Larkspur Benary’s Pacific Blue Bird

Unfortunately, no. Although the Larkspur is beautiful, the entire plant is poisonous. We recommend wearing gloves when handling it (especially when cutting or transplanting) and exercising extra caution. Please carefully consider where you plant it in your garden if you have small children or curious pets.

Very much so! Despite being poisonous to humans and animals, its flowers are a literal magnet for bees, bumblebees, and butterflies. The blooms offer a great deal of nectar, both in the summer during June and in the autumn when many other plants in the garden are no longer flowering.

For successful cultivation, choose a fully sunny and airy location. The quality of the soil is also essential – it must be loamy, rich in humus, and truly nutrient-dense. When planting, maintain a spacing of 60 centimeters (approximately 2 to 3 plants per square meter). This spacing is crucial so that air can circulate around the plants and the leaves can dry quickly after rain.

Larkspur are the queens of traditional cottage and English gardens. They look wonderful standing beside romantic roses and delicate peonies. They also pair nicely with Daisies or phlox. Their height creates a beautiful visual backdrop for shorter perennials placed at the front of the flower bed.

This plant is a major attraction for slugs and snails. You must monitor them carefully, especially in early spring when fresh, young shoots appear. We recommend the timely use of mechanical barriers or ecological slug bait.

This is likely powdery mildew. It is a very common fungal disease of Larkspur, which does not thrive in damp and poorly ventilated environments. The best prevention is proper 60 cm spacing when planting so that the leaves can dry out well. If the disease breaks out, it is necessary to remove the affected leaves and apply a suitable anti-mildew spray.

Botanically, the Larkspur is classified as a short-lived perennial. This means that after about three to four years, it may gradually lose its vitality. You can simply solve the problem by digging up the older clump in the autumn or early spring, dividing it into smaller parts, and planting them in fresh, nutrient-enriched soil. This will rejuvenate the plant.

If your Larkspur did not reach its typical height, it usually lacked one of the key care conditions. Most often, this is due to a lack of sun (shading by other plants), chronic lack of moisture during the growth phase, or soil poor in nutrients because you forgot to fertilize in early spring. It may also play a role if the clump is already too old and requires dividing and rejuvenation.

Yes, blue Larkspur are a huge hit in floristry! They stay fresh in a vase for approximately seven days and look absolutely fantastic.

Practical tip: Always keep the vase well away from a bowl of ripening fruit. Fruit releases ethylene, which would cause the beautiful flowers to drop and wilt quickly.

Definitely yes! Once dried, the blue flowers beautifully retain their deep color for a long time. You will achieve the best results by cutting the plant at the peak of its bloom and hanging it upside down in a well-ventilated, dry, and dark place.