Many types of larkspur are short-lived. This is due, in part, to their susceptibility to diseases such as botrytis blight and crown rot. To lessen the likelihood of your plants being infected by such disease, provide adequate spacing, mulch your larkspurs, and keep your garden free of debris. It is handy that larkspurs are groundhog resistant. These pests will nibble them here and there, but the poisonous nature of the plants will kill them. So, the damage will not be extensive. Nor do deer and rabbits tend to eat them. Meanwhile, they are useful for drawing butterflies and hummingbirds to the yard. Most larkspur plants are stately perennials ideal for growing at the back of a flower border. The drawback with these is that you have to stake them. If you prefer low-maintenance landscaping, opt for dwarf types. Their impressive height (some types reach seven feet tall), however, makes them extremely showy specimens. The taller types of larkspur are well worth growing if you do not mind performing a bit of maintenance. This perennial most commonly bears purple, blue, or white flowers. Lavender is the next most common color. You will occasionally encounter larkspurs with pink blooms, and other colors exist but are rarer. Larkspur is valued as one of the traditional plants for cottage gardens. Below are ten Larkspur cultivars or species that could be worth considering for your garden.
Native Area: Northern HemisphereUSDA Growing Zones: 3 to 8Height: 4 to 6 feetSun Exposure: Full sun
Native Area: Northern HemisphereUSDA Growing Zones: 3 to 8Height: 4 to 6 feetSun Exposure: Full sun
Native Area: Northern HemisphereUSDA Growing Zones: 5 to 8Height: 4 to 6 feetSun Exposure: Full sun
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Native Area: Northern HemisphereUSDA Growing Zones: 4 to 7Height: 2 to 4 feetSun Exposure: Full sun
Native Area: Northern HemisphereUSDA Growing Zones: 4 to 7Height: 1 to 3 feetSun Exposure: Full sun
Native Area: Northern HemisphereUSDA Growing Zones: 3 to 7Height: Up to two feetSun Exposure: Full sun
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Native Area: Northern HemisphereUSDA Growing Zones: 3 to 9Height: 6 to 7 feetSun Exposure: Full sun
Native Area: Northern HemisphereUSDA Growing Zones: 2 to 9Height: 5 feetSun Exposure: Full sun
Native Area: CaliforniaUSDA Growing Zones: 8a to 9bHeight: 2 feetSun Exposure: Full sun
This cultivar is another that is only moderately tall and produces blooms earlier than do the statelier kinds of Delphinium.
Native Area: Northern HemisphereUSDA Growing Zones: 3 to 8Height: 2 to 3 feetSun Exposure: Full sun
