Delphinium Splish Splash Seeds - Annual Larkspur

In summer, Delphinium consolida Splish Splash raises spikes of white flowers that are curiously streaked and splashed with purple and pink above beds. Beautiful stature, charm, rapid growth and prolific blooming are the qualities that make this well-branched annual plant a must grow. Its spikes look like huge candlesticks made of flowers and will stand out beautifully at the back of perennial beds or in a vase at home. The Field Larkspur is easy to grow even in chalky soil. It can be sown directly in the sun.

Delphinium Splish Splash is one of the many hybrids derived from the forking larkspur (also known as rocket-larkspur or field larkspur), in Latin Delphinium consolida. Field larkspur is an annual plant whose seeds germinate easier in winter. It grows amongst cereal crops on rather dry clay-limestone soil, unlike most larkspur. It is a hardy, fast-growing annual plant that forms a 35 to 40 cm wide clump, featuring deeply cut, soft green palmate foliage from which flower stems measuring an average height of 1.05 m emerge in summer. It blooms from June to September and is much visited by foraging insects. The spurred flowers are single or sometimes semi-double and are grouped together on large, upright, dense-looking spikes. Flowers are followed by the formation of numerous seeds which will germinate easily in the garden. The plant develops from a ligneous rhizome that grows vertically into the soil.

The distinctive silhouette of Delphinium always add a sense of depth and height to perennial beds, while lending them much charm. By sowing directly outdoors, the 'Splish Splash' variety allows you to quickly create a slightly unusual, yet elegant setting. Delphiniums are also good companions for moss or gallic roses, with which they paint a very charming and romantic picture. They also combine beautifully with common baby's breath, Crambe cordifolia or Gillenia trifoliata. This plant lends itself well to the creation of bouquets, as its flowers have a particularly long vase-life and can even be dried. To do this, cut the flowers in full bloom and group them into small bouquets. Hang them upside down and store them in a dark, dry, well-ventilated space.