Fancy Smokey Eyes Larkspur brings a novel, dramatic color to the classic cut flower garden. This open-pollinated cultivar of Consolida ajacis grows 36 to 48 inches tall with a refined bushy habit, producing long stems ideal for fresh arrangements or dried bouquets from spring through summer. Sown in early spring, seeds germinate within 6 to 15 days under warm conditions and reach bloom in approximately 98 days, though some sources report 80 to 90 days. Deer leave it alone, and pollinators visit reliably, making it both a beautiful and ecologically sound choice.
Full Sun
High
2-11
48in H x 18in W
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High
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The smokey eye effect sets this larkspur apart in a crowded field of blues and purples, offering a distinctive color that commands attention in any arrangement. Growing to 36 to 48 inches with minimal width, the plant produces tall, elegant stems perfect for cutting at peak bloom. It thrives in full sun with consistent moisture and tolerates both fresh cutting and drying exceptionally well, rewarding attentive gardeners with weeks of color from a single sowing.
Fancy Smokey Eyes Larkspur excels as a cut flower for fresh arrangements and dried bouquets. Harvest stems when approximately one-third of the blooms have opened for fresh displays, or wait until all flowers are open but before petals drop if you plan to dry them. The tall, columnar stems and novel color make it a florist-quality choice for wedding arrangements, seasonal centerpieces, and long-lasting dried compositions.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Sow seeds indoors into 72-cell plug flats or preferred seedling containers 5 to 7 weeks before transplanting outdoors. Sow seeds 1/8 to 1/4 inch deep, keeping in darkness for germination. Maintain soil temperature around 55°F (13°C) until seedlings are ready to plant outside. Seeds germinate between 70 to 85°F within 6 to 15 days under warm conditions if started with warmth, but indoor transplant growing should remain cool at 55°F.
Transplant seedlings outdoors 3 to 4 weeks before the last spring frost in your zone, or in early autumn for zones 7 to 10. Space plants 1 inch apart. Harden off seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions before planting in prepared garden soil.
Direct sow seeds outdoors in early spring 3 to 4 weeks before the last frost date, or in early autumn in zones 7 to 10. Sow seeds 1/8 to 1/4 inch deep in darkness. Seeds do not germinate well when soil temperatures exceed 55°F (13°C), so timing is critical for success.
For fresh-cut flowers, harvest stems in the morning when petals are freshest and approximately one-third of the blooms are open. Use a clean knife dipped in a 10% household bleach solution to make the cut, which reduces disease transmission and improves vase life. For dried bouquets, wait until all flowers on the stem are open but before petals begin to drop. A few drops of bleach added to the vase water will prolong the beauty of fresh-cut arrangements.
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