Larkspur Giant Hyacinth Mixed

One massive dense spire per plant rather than a branching bunch of thinner ones. At 90cm the column is packed with flowers along its whole length like a giant hyacinth, in violet, lilac, pink, rose and white, and it is rigid enough to stand largely unaided.

That single-column habit is the trade-off. You get less total cut from a plant than from a branching variety like 'Giant Imperial', but what you get is architectural in a way the branching sorts are not, both in a border and in a tall arrangement. It is also the best larkspur for drying whole: the tight structure holds together through the process where an open branching spike drops petals. Cut when the lowest flowers are open and the top is still in bud, and hang in small bunches somewhere warm and dark.

Sow it covered, in darkness, rather than on the surface, and give the seed a week in the freezer first if it has been stored warm. September sowing gives the tallest columns.

All parts are toxic if eaten. Wash your hands after handling and keep it away from children and pets.