Larkspur

by Ahmed Shehata
(Cairo,Egypt)

summer plant...white and purple...Grows straight, so its one of the perennialis , the flowers is looking down..

Drought Smart Plants reply: oh, this is a classic; Larkspur is known botanically as Consolida, and these are actually annuals, although they look very similar to the perennial Delphinium. They are both in the same family, the Ranunculaceae.

Some varieties can get to be over 4' tall (1.2 meters) and several newer types are basal branching instead of the older type which only has one flower spike.

These are best seeded directly where they are to grow, as they resent being moved. In best situations, they will self seed in drifts, which isn't always possible in a managed garden setting, but just right for a semi-wild area in well drained soil. These plants are very drought tolerant.

You can collect the seeds as they ripen, and store them in a paper bag until spring, then scatter them at the back of a planting bed.

Happy Dry Gardening!
Jacki