Cut Flower
QIS Dark Blue Larkspur is a compact, open-pollinated cultivar of Consolida ajacis bred for serious cut-flower production. Reaching 36 to 48 inches tall with deep blue flowers that bloom from spring through summer, this variety thrives in cool-season gardens across hardiness zones 2 through 11. It reaches flowering in about 98 days from seed, making it reliable for both early-season color and succession plantings. Deer avoid it, drought won't stress it, and pollinators flock to its spires, all while it demands only moderate water and full sun.
Full Sun
Moderate
2-11
48in H x 18in W
Annual
High
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Deep blue flower spikes on a compact frame make this larkspur a dream for florists and home gardeners alike. Direct seeding in early spring or autumn produces vigorous plants that need darkness to germinate but reward you with weeks of cutting material. The flowers hold beautifully both fresh (with basal blooms opening progressively) and dried, and the tight spacing tolerance means you can pack plenty of stems into a small garden bed or succession planting.
QIS Dark Blue Larkspur excels as a cut flower, with successive basal blooms opening along the stem as you condition and display it. It also dries exceptionally well for long-term arrangements, dried bouquets, and pressed-flower work. The dense flower spikes contribute color and vertical interest to garden beds, and their appeal to pollinators makes them valuable in supporting beneficial insects.
Start seeds indoors in 72-cell plug flats or seedling containers 5 to 7 weeks before your intended planting date. Sow at a depth of 1/8 to 1/4 inch in darkness, as light inhibits germination. Maintain soil temperatures around 55°F (13°C) until seedlings are ready to transplant outside. Expect germination in 20 to 35 days.
Harden off transplants gradually before moving them to the garden. Plant out 3 to 4 weeks before your last spring frost, or in early autumn in zones 7 through 10 for the following year's bloom. Space plants 1 inch apart for optimal cut-flower density.
Direct sowing is recommended and produces excellent results. Sow seeds 1/8 to 1/4 inch deep in early spring 3 to 4 weeks before your last frost, or in early autumn. Press seeds firmly into soil to ensure darkness for germination, and keep soil consistently moist until seedlings emerge.
For fresh-cut arrangements, harvest when 2 to 3 basal flowers have opened along about one-third of the stem; this provides a long vase life as additional buds continue to open. For dried flowers, cut when blooms on the stem are open but before petals begin to drop. Cut in the morning after dew dries, using a sharp knife or scissors to take stems cleanly.
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