Larkspur

Annual larkspur spikes up the cool weather garden with feathery leaves and layers of thumbnail-sized flowers that attract lots of bees! And, supposedly they are deer resistant.

There are many varieties of this hybridized heirloom that vary in height and colors: purple, pink and white.

Larkspurs are super easy to grow as long as you give them full sun and decently well-drained soil. Sprinkle them around perennials that go dormant in winter for pop-out color and bee food until warm weather bloomers return.

In Texas and warm winter climates, sow seeds in fall or pick up nursery transplants in the spring.
Water seedlings (like any wildflowers) if rain misses your garden.

Swaths of larkspurs are totally lovely, but thin crowds to allow ample airflow in humid springs. Although water is welcome, don’t overwater.

Blooming for weeks, cut a few to bring indoors or to dry. After flowering, let the seed pods turn brown. Then, cut them into a bucket or bag to collect the seeds. Let them dry and store in a cool place indoors until next year. Or, let them scatter on their own for pop-up surprises next year!