Larkspur, Tall

Bluish purple to lavender 1" flowers in airy, graceful spikes, July–September. Not fussy about soil, but in the parts of the Midwest where it's native, it grows in well-drained, slightly alkaline soils in dappled shade. Will seed itself pleasantly around.

The species name means “very tall.” I have grown this plant for 15 years under a tall elm in sandy soil and the plants have never needed staking. Many visitors to my Saint Paul garden are unfamiliar with this wild larkspur and often request the seeds. –Nancy