Larkspur

Larkspur Benary’s Pacific Astolat is an unmissable dominant feature among border perennials and brings classic elegance to the garden. Its original species originate from temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, where they grow in moister mountain meadows. Therefore, even in our gardens, it will appreciate a location in full sun and deep, nutrient-rich loamy and humous soil with plenty of moisture. You will receive from us an already mature seedling in a pot, which you just need to transplant to the chosen spot. Here it will quickly form a massive clump with deeply lobed green leaves. The Astolat cultivar stands out with firm stems up to a meter and a half tall, which from June carry rich inflorescences of large pink flowers with a contrasting center. During summer, these flowers reliably attract bees, bumblebees, and other pollinators. After the first blooming, we recommend cutting the plant back, which will encourage another wave of blooming at the end of summer in August and September. Growing larkspurs requires a bit more attention, so it is better suited for more advanced growers. For them to stand out well and reach their full height, they need to be given enough space; the optimal spacing is around sixty centimeters. Do not forget regular fertilizing and copious watering, because in dry soil they can suffer and be more susceptible to powdery mildew. In spring, it is also important to protect the sprouting shoots from slugs and snails. However, the care invested will pay off richly. We often see them in the company of roses and peonies, with which they form a perfect romantic composition. The entire plant is poisonous, which is good to consider when choosing a planting site. On the other hand, it will please you with its tremendous frost resistance; it can easily handle temperatures dropping down to minus thirty-four degrees. We can fully enjoy their beauty not only in flowerbeds but also in fresh bouquets. For cutting into a vase, choose stems at the time when the bottom flowers are opening. They will last approximately seven days in water, just be careful not to place the vase near ripening fruit. They are sensitive to ethylene, which causes rapid shedding of petals. You can also try drying them for floristic purposes. If you hang the inflorescences in a dark and airy place, the flowers will perfectly retain their rich pink color and serve as an interesting element for winter decorations.

Larkspur Benary’s Pacific King Arthur is an unmistakable classic and a true dominant feature among border perennials. The original larkspur species come from the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, where they grow in moist meadows and in the undergrowth of light forests. Therefore, even in your garden, it will appreciate a sunny spot and well-drained, humus-rich, and loamy soil with plenty of moisture. To get the most beautiful flowers, the plants need to be given enough space, about sixty centimeters apart, and regular fertilization. You will receive from us a grown seedling in a pot, which you just need to transplant into the flower bed. It stands out especially in the company of roses or peonies, with which it forms a proven and effective combination. The King Arthur variety will enchant you in June and subsequently in late summer with its massive inflorescences in rich tones of purple and blue. It grows to a height of one hundred to one hundred and fifty centimeters, and therefore it will become an unmissable vertical element of any planting. The abundant flowers reliably attract bees and other pollinators. Although larkspurs are a bit more demanding to care for, as slugs like to feast on them and in dense plantings they can occasionally suffer from powdery mildew, their beauty is definitely worth a little attention. Moreover, the entire plant is poisonous, which conversely protects it from other animals. It will survive the winter here without any problems, handling frosts down to minus thirty-four degrees. You will appreciate this magnificent perennial not only when looking at a blooming flower bed, but also at home on your table. Its sturdy stems are perfectly suited for cutting into summer bouquets. The fresh flower will bring you joy in a vase for approximately seven days. Just pay close attention not to place it near a bowl of ripening fruit, as it is very sensitive to released ethylene, which shortens its vase life. If you want to preserve the purple-blue beauty for a longer time, you can simply dry the long stems with flowers for floral purposes. Even after drying, they retain their rich color very well and perfectly liven up various long-lasting winter decorations and arrangements.