Consolida ajacis Giant Imperial Series (d)

RHS Plant Profile

giant larkspur Giant Imperial Series

Synonyms

Delphinium ajacis 'Giant Imperial Strain'

Annual Biennial

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Upright, branching annuals to 1.2m tall with feathery green foliage and, in summer, long spikes of spurred, double flowers in shades of pink, blue or white

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

1-1.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 1 year
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: 1-1.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand

Moisture: Well–drained
pH: Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: South–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H6

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Ranunculaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Columnar upright
Potentially harmful: All parts toxic if ingested, sap may irritate the skin. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling
Genus: Consolida are upright annuals with deeply pinnately or palmately dissected leaves, and racemes or panicles of small, spurred, delphium-like flowers in summer
Name Status: Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in well-drained soil in full sun; for cut flowers, cut when only the lowermost buds are open

Propagation

Propagate by seed: sow in early autumn and prick out in early spring, sow under cover in early spring, or sow outside in late spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
City and courtyard gardens
Cut flowers
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free