Larkspur Crown Blend

Larkspur Crown Blend produces tall, strong stems topped with a riot of large, vibrant blooms in a mix of colours. It’s one of the best types for fresh cut flowers and holds up well in the vase. The blooms can also be dried for later use.

🌸 Flowering: July to September

📏 Height: to 120cm

🌿Annual

SOW
Plant seeds outdoors from March to May where you want the plants to grow and flower. You can also sow in August or September and let them overwinter — they’re hardy enough for that. Germination usually takes about 3–4 weeks.

If you want a head start, you can sow in seed trays too — see below for how to do that. This method also lets you sow later, from September through to December.

GROW
Once they’re growing well, thin or transplant to around 40–50cm apart. They’re tall plants and will usually need a bit of staking or support. Larkspur does well in most garden soils and is happy in sun or part shade.

Keep deadheading back to the smaller flowering side shoots — it’ll help encourage more blooms through the season.

ENJOY
Pick larkspur early in the day when the flowers are just opening. Strip most of the leaves and stand the stems in deep water for a few hours before arranging. They’ll last around 10 days in a vase and can also be dried for later use.

SOWING IN SEED TRAYS

For spring sowing

• Fill small seed trays with seed compost
• Surface sow the seeds, then lightly cover with vermiculite
• Place the tray in a polythene bag and pop it in the fridge for 3 weeks
• After chilling, move to a warm spot (15–18°C) out of direct sunlight
• The seeds need this cold then warmth to get going.
• Once seedlings appear, prick out and pot on as needed
• Harden off and plant out after the last frost in May
• From sowing to flowering takes around 5 months

For autumn sowing (Sept–Dec)

• Sow in trays and don’t bag them
• Leave somewhere dry and frost-free (shed or garage is ideal)
• In early spring, when you see green shoots, start watering gently
• Move to a bright, frost-free spot
• Once big enough and frosts are past, harden off and plant out
• Autumn sown plants usually flower earlier the following year