Appearance

Growth form

A short-lived, bushy perennial, usually 4–24 in (10–60 cm) tall — far smaller than the tall garden delphiniums.

Leaves

Narrow, finely divided leaves.

Flowers

Spurred flowers in deep to pale blue, white, or pale pink, scattered along branching stems in open sprays rather than one tall spike. Unlike rocket larkspur and tall garden delphiniums, it has no lavender varieties.

Look-alikes

Rocket larkspurDelphinium ajacis

An annual up to about 3 ft (1 m) tall with blue, pink, or white flowers packed into upright spikes. Siberian larkspur is lower, with flowers loosely scattered on branching stems.

Why they get mixed up · Introduced and widespread across much of North America, with similar spurred blue flowers.

Images coming soon

Candle larkspurDelphinium elatum

Much taller, with flowers crowded on a single tall spike; Siberian larkspur is short and compact.

Where it lives

Typical habitats

• Meadows
• Woodland edges
• Scrubland
• Gardens

Range

Native to Russia (Siberia and the Far East), Mongolia, China, and northern Korea. In the US it is grown as a garden flower.

Preferred conditions

Full sun and moist but well-drained soil. Very cold-hardy — rated to about USDA zone 5, sometimes zone 4.

Life cycle

Seed dispersal

Reseeds readily in the garden.

Growing it

Care

Often treated as an annual because it may not come back. Letting it go to seed shortens the show.

Propagation

Usually bought as nursery plants; can also be grown from seed, divided, or started from basal cuttings in early spring.

Toxicity

Poisonous like other larkspurs; harmful to people and pets if eaten. Wear gloves when handling.

Name and classification

Varieties and forms

Many cultivars are sold, in deep blue, pale blue, white, and pale pink; both dwarf and normal-height types are available.

Conservation

IUCN Red List

NENot Evaluated·Not yet assessed