Consolida ajacis, commonly known as Larkspur, is a robust Hardy Annual (H3). While it shares a striking resemblance to the perennial Delphinium, it completes its life cycle in a single UK summer, reaching nearly a metre in height with impressive speed.

The "Hyacinth" Habit: This specific variety is bred for its non-branching habit, meaning it produces one magnificent, thick central spike of flowers. This focused growth creates a far more dense and structural visual impact than other Larkspur varieties, making it the florist’s choice for vertical drama.

Cool-Season Specialist: Larkspur is genetically programmed to thrive in the cooler temperatures of the British spring. It establishes a strong root system before the summer heat arrives, ensuring that when it does bloom, the spires are tall, rigid, and densely packed with double, ruffled flowers.

Larkspur seeds can sometimes enter a state of deep dormancy if they get too warm. To guarantee success, place your sealed seed packet in the freezer for 7 days before sowing. This "cold shock" mimics a sharp frost and signals to the seed that winter is over and it is time to germinate.

How to Sow:
Sow directly outdoors in September (for the tallest, earliest flowers) or March/April. Scatter seeds onto finely raked soil and cover lightly; Larkspur seeds require darkness to germinate. They have a sensitive taproot and hate root disturbance, so direct sowing into their final position is strongly recommended.

Where to Plant:
They demand full sun and fertile, well-drained soil. Because the flower spikes are heavy and dense, they are "hungry" plants; digging in some well-rotted garden compost before sowing will result in much thicker, more structural columns of colour.

Ongoing Care:
The dense flower spikes are heavy and can catch the wind; we recommend early staking or growing them through support netting to prevent them from snapping in a UK summer gale. Water regularly during dry spells to keep the spires growing straight and tall.

The rigid, upright spikes of 'Giant Hyacinth' need soft, airy partners to prevent the border looking too stiff. Pair them with these available stars from our collection:

• ☁️ Cosmos 'Purity': The Softener. The large, floating white saucers and ferny foliage of 'Purity' perfectly soften the rigid architectural lines of the Larkspur spikes. Both thrive in the same sunny spots and flower simultaneously.
• ❄️ Ammi Majus (Queen Anne’s Lace): The Florist's Mix. Combining the solid, column-like spikes of Larkspur with the flat, frothy white heads of Ammi creates a professional "meadow-style" bouquet in either the garden or the vase.

Sow in autumn for spectacular early summer columns, or early spring for mid-summer colour.