What plant is larkspur? Get to know this herbaceous plant

Other names for larkspur

Large-flowered larkspur, dove flower, baibu grass, chicken-claw lian, dry-bird grass, luo small flower, thousand-bird flower

Morphological characteristics of larkspur

Stem: The stem reaches about 60 cm in height, and both the stem and the inflorescence are covered with more or less curved short pubescence, branching above the middle. The lower leaves of the stem have long petioles and mostly wither at flowering time, while the leaves above the middle have short petioles

Leaves: The leaf blade reaches up to 3 cm in length, palmately finely divided, with narrow linear small lobes 0.4-1 mm wide, covered with short pubescence.

Flowers: The inflorescence grows at the top of the stem or branches; the lower bracts are leaf-like, the upper bracts are small, undivided, and linear. The pedicel is 0.7-2.8 cm long; the bracteoles grow near the middle of the pedicel, small and linear; the sepals are purple, pink, or white, broadly ovate, about 1.2 cm long, sparsely covered with short pubescence in the central outer part, with a spur-shaped spur about 1.6 cm long; the petal lobe is three-lobed, the middle lobe about 5 mm long with a two-lobed tip, the lateral lobes spreading at right angles to the middle lobe, ovate; the anther is about 1 mm long.

Growth habits of larkspur

Larkspur has strong adaptability to climate, and a humid and cool climate environment is more suitable. The optimum temperature for seed germination is 15°C, and the optimum temperature during the growing period is 20-25°C during the day and 3-15°C at night.

It likes light and can tolerate a little shade; during the growing period it can be placed in semi-shade, and during the flowering period it needs full sunlight. It likes fertile, moist, well-drained acidic soil, and can also tolerate drought and a little water temperature; a pH value of 5.5-6.0 is best.

Main values of larkspur

Ornamental: Larkspur has a unique flower shape and elegant colors. It can be planted in clumps, planted in flower beds and flower borders, and can also be used as a cut flower.

Medicinal: The whole plant and seeds can be used as medicine to treat toothache. The stem and leaf infusion can kill insects.

Flower language of larkspur

Tranquility, lightness, justice, freedom

Because larkspur flowers come in many colors, people have also attached different meanings to larkspur of different colors.

Blue larkspur represents depression; purple larkspur represents admiration and gentleness; pink represents poetry; white represents elegance.