🌸 Flower
ANX-FLOWER-0000025
Candle Larkspur
Delphinium elatum
Candle Larkspur (Delphinium elatum), an herbaceous perennial of the Ranunculaceae family, bears stiff, dense spikes of dark purplish-blue flowers and is a parent species of many garden Elatum hybrids.
Log in to request a quotation- Family
- Ranunculaceae
- Plant type
- Herbaceous perennial
- Bloom color
- Dark purplish-blue; cultivars range from blue and purple to pink, cream, and white
- Bloom season
- Early to mid-summer
- Mature height
- 150-250 cm cm
- Sun requirements
- Full sun
- Fragrance
- Not noted as fragrant
- Native region
- Temperate Europe and central/northern Asia
Growing
Growing Conditions
- Water requirements
- Moist but well-drained soil; dislikes waterlogging.
- Climate requirements
- Prefers cool summers and shelter from strong winds; RHS hardiness rating H5 (hardy through most UK winters).
- Soil types
- Fertile, well-drained soil; tolerates chalk, clay, loam, and sand at acid to alkaline pH.
- Propagation method
- Softwood basal cuttings, seed, division
Ecology
Pollinators & Toxicity
- Pollinator value
- RHS-designated as a plant for pollinators.
- Toxicity
- Harmful if eaten and can irritate skin on handling; toxic to humans, dogs, cats, and horses, with diterpenoid alkaloids in all parts posing a severe poisoning risk to grazing cattle.
Use
Uses & Economic Importance
- Uses
- Cottage gardens, wildlife gardens, flower borders, wall-side borders, cut flowers
- Economic importance
- A key parent of the Elatum Group of garden delphinium cultivars widely sold in the cut-flower and ornamental perennial trade.
Trade
Marketplace
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