Larkspur also performs best when where summers are cooler. I've grown a couple of varieties here in my zone 6b-7 and they looked beautiful in the spring and fall but when the temps consistently reached the mid 80's, they were ugly and nasty looking.

Another thing---and some people might like this---they re-seed everywhere and became a weed for me.

I scatter seeds everywhere in my garden every summer. I just updend the stalks and shake, shake, shake. When I have extra seeds, I fling them everywhere too. Love the blue color. :-)

Good advice in all of the above, and I have something to add: They can be sown twice a year, and really should be, since the Fall sowing will give you Winter color. I am unfamiliar with how this would work for you in your zone, however. I highly recommend sowing in Fall and Spring. Perhaps you could also find a local gardener here on the regional forums who would be able to share results and advice on growing these in your region and zone.

I started some indoors and just shook some on the ground- I wanted to see how each set did and compare. The ones that just naturally sowed are about two inches high now. They are definitely beautiful until it turns humid, then they fade. The fall sowing is a great idea in warmer climates like mine as we have such a long fall.

I'm also interested in growing larkspur and have a few questions:
1. I was given seeds of larkspur consolida (sp?). Can I direct sow these now - basically, just scatter them where I want them to grow - now?

2. Do I need to cover the seeds or can I just direct sow (using my lazy scatter seed method) and hope for the best?

3. The area I'm thinking of gets full sun. Is there a particular variety that's easier to grow than others?

Thanks much!

If you have plenty of seeds, scatter & sow is a great, easy way to start them. I had only a few seeds, maybe a dozen, of Earl Grey larkspur, so I started mine in a pot in Feb. I just planted them out yesterday. You might just give them a little water & a pat to settle them in, but they don't really need to be covered. Yours should do fine in full sun. I have consolida in full sun, they reseed themselves for fall bloom for me. Plant them once & you should have them from now on.

Alameda, in zone 8, larkspur is an April blooming annual with a short life. I sowed mine in November. They're blooming now. Sowing now will be a waste of seed; by the time they germinate, they'll be crispy critters in the heat. Sown in November, they'll germinate and grow when they're ready and you should have larkspur as the same time as the botanical garden.

Results and sowing times are different in cooler climates.
Bellarosa, the advice given above by those in zones similar to yours will apply.

Nell

I use large containers especially, I will put Delphiniums in the big round tub with the dark top.

I bought these different size show cap type things at Family Dollar but have also seen them at Dollar General. You get a pack of at least 6 for a buck. Real neat idea for odd ball size containers. I use two to make sure it is sturdy enough and put holes in it.

Love to see other people's containers...need more help with the small ones.