Information About Larkspur Flowers

History

• Larkspur is a classic cottage garden plant, and was referred to by Shakespeare as lark's heel. It has been cultivated in American gardens since pre-Revolutionary times.

Name Origin

• Larkspur gets its name from the decorative spur at the end of its blossom, which is filled with nectar to attract pollinators.

Description

• Larkspur stems are upright and can grow to 3 feet in height. The leaves are deeply cut and lacy-looking. The blossom features five sepals which form a hollow, inside of which lie the plant's true petals. Flowers may come in blue, violet, pink or white.

Uses

• Larkspur serves as a nectar source for butterflies and bumblebees, and also a butterfly larval food. Larkspurs are often used as cut flowers. Master gardener Kay Jones recommends using the cloud larkspur variety as a dried flower, since the brilliant blue and white colors hold true even when dry.

Care

• Larkspurs are easily grown from seed and like a well-drained soil in a sunny spot.

Caution

• The seeds and leaves of larkspur are poisonous. Wild larkspur causes more cattle deaths than any other native plant, according to the Colorado State University Extension.