Description

Larkspur ‘Fancy Purple Picotee’ Seeds

Fully double, ruffled white blossoms delicately edged with a fine line of vibrant violet-purple. These vertical spires add ‘hand-painted’ sophistication to bouquets and are a favourite for British bumblebees.

If standard block-colours feel a little flat, ‘Fancy Purple Picotee’ adds instant sophistication. Each fully double, ruffled white blossom is delicately edged with a fine line of vibrant violet-purple. From a distance, it looks like shimmering lilac; up close, it looks like it has been painted by hand with a fine brush.

This is a florist’s dream flower. The vertical spires add crucial height to bouquets, while the intricate bi-colour pattern adds detail and depth without overwhelming other blooms. It is robust, reliable, and dries to perfection, allowing you to keep that “hand-painted” beauty for winter wreaths.

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Understanding the Plant

Consolida ajacis ‘Fancy Purple Picotee’ is a stunning Hardy Annual (H3). While it shares the regal stature of a Delphinium, it completes its life cycle in a single UK summer, reaching its full 1.2-metre height with remarkable speed.

Cool-Season Specialist: Larkspur is genetically adapted to the cooler dampness of a British spring. It focuses on building a deep, strong root system while the soil is cold, which eventually supports the massive, bloom-heavy spires that appear as the temperatures rise in June.

The Picotee Pattern: In horticulture, “Picotee” refers to a flower whose edge is a different colour than the base. In this variety, the contrast between the snow-white petals and the sharp violet-purple margin is particularly crisp, making it one of the most photographed varieties in the cottage garden.

Growing Guide: The Fridge Trick

Larkspur seeds can sometimes enter a state of deep dormancy if they get too warm. To guarantee a high germination rate, place your sealed seed packet in the freezer for 7 days before sowing. This “cold shock” mimics a sharp frost and signals to the seed that winter is over and it is time to germinate.

How to Sow:
Sow directly outdoors in September (for the tallest, earliest flowers) or March/April. Scatter seeds onto finely raked soil and cover lightly; Larkspur seeds require darkness to germinate. They have a sensitive taproot and hate root disturbance, so direct sowing into their final position is always recommended.

Where to Plant:
They demand full sun and fertile, well-drained soil. Because they grow so rapidly to 1.2 metres, they are “hungry” plants; digging in some well-rotted garden compost before sowing will result in much thicker, more structural columns of colour.

Ongoing Care:
The tall, ruffled spires can be heavy and may catch the wind; we recommend early staking with birch twigs or garden twine. To extend your harvest for the vase, cut the main central stem first, which will encourage the plant to produce several smaller side-spires of flowers.

Plant Specifications

Botanical Name	Consolida ajacis
Common Name	Larkspur ‘Fancy Purple Picotee’
Plant Type	Hardy Annual
Hardiness	H3 (Tolerates light frost)
Light Requirements	Full Sun
Height	120cm (Tall)
Spread	30cm
Spacing	Plant 25cm apart
Flowering Period	June to August
Perfect For	Sophisticated Cut Flowers Hand-Painted Visual Detail Winter Dried Arrangements Romantic Wedding Themes
Seeds per Packet	Approximately 150 seeds

Beautiful Garden Combinations

The vertical “hand-painted” spires of this Picotee larkspur need soft, round partners to balance their rigid lines. Pair them with these available stars:

• Ammi Majus (Queen Annes Lace): The Perfect Partner. The flat, white lacy heads of Ammi provide a spectacular horizontal contrast to the tall, vertical Larkspur. The pure white of the Ammi perfectly highlights the crisp white centres of the Picotee flowers.
• Cosmos ‘Purity’: Soft & Flowing. The large, simple white saucers of ‘Purity’ soften the rigid architectural stems of the Larkspur. Plant the Larkspur at the back and the Cosmos towards the front for a tiered, romantic cottage garden look.

Sowing & Flowering Calendar

Sow in autumn for spectacular early summer spires, or early spring for mid-summer colour.

Month	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Sow Outdoors
Flowering

Toxicity Warning
Larkspur belongs to the Delphinium family; all parts of the plant and its seeds are toxic if ingested by humans or pets. We recommend washing your hands after handling the seeds.

RHS Plants for Pollinators

Larkspur is an exceptional nectar source for early summer. Consolida ajacis is listed on the RHS Plants for Pollinators list and is a particular favourite for British bumblebees and hoverflies.

Want more detailed growing advice?
View our Complete Growing Guide for Annuals