I also got a larkspur from the swap last year and collected seeds from it. This year, I had almost 100% germination success and took some to the swap.

You both have given me hope. I haven't been as very successful sowing seeds directly outdoors so I've rarely done it. Sometimes my morning glory has taken and sometimes it hasn't, even in the same area as the year before. I collected a multitude of zinnea seeds and didn't get hardly get any the next year. When I read larkspur can be iffy growing by seed but didn't like to be transplanted, I wanted to get better direction from expert, local gardeners first.

When you first planted the larksplur in your garden, do you recall WHEN you planted them? Since the seed pods are now opening up, I'm guessing that now I should start planting these in the next 2 weeks or so. I've read that it requires cool temperatures to germinate though. Does this mean that the actual germination doesn't happen until sometime in the fall. Does anyone recall when they saw the new seedlings starting to grow?

One of the areas that I was going to seed with larksplur gets overspray from my neighbor every other day. Would that be about right for water? The other area I never water (grows salvia & shasta daisy just fine) but gets a good soaking whenever it rains as it get all the runoff of a large patio. How much if any should I water if any to get the seedlings off to a good start?

I'm really hoping I can get these flowers off to a good start. It sounds like once they get growing, they should be going strong after that.

My larkspurs can definitely be weeds that come up everywhere. When the seeds are viable, I just collect and save for Fall, or scatter when they're ready. When they come up in the Spring where they are 'in the way', they're toast. Some years I'll have dozens upon dozens. This year I have maybe 10 that I let go to seed. I used to have 3 different colors, but haven't had pink lately.

The first year I sowed them in February. They started sprouting in early spring and bloomed in early summer with a resurgence in late summer. The next year I collected the seeds and sowed them in fall, and they did fine with that, too. Now I let them self-sow, which is happening now. So I think you can sow them whenever. If I want to spread them to a new bed, I use the very scientific method of pulling up a bunch that has ripe seed heads on it, and thrashing it around over the spot I want more.

Like Treebarb said, you’ll see seedlings in the fall but they don’t die over the winter; it just gives them a head start.

They grow in my beds with lots of water and those with very little little water as well. They are very easy

I love them, I just wish they didn’t get quite so ratty-looking when they are forming their seeds. I was even considering pulling them out before they set seed, and just buying more seed to throw on the ground, but it has been so hot that I’ve been doing minimal gardening lately, so I’ve been saved from having to buy new seed.

Faith, thanks so much for being so specific. It sound like there is a fair amount of allowance for variables and they will still grow. I will try them in 4 different locations. Even though they can look ratty after blooming, I'm hoping that the area in general will be established enough to take my eye to a nicely blooming plant.