Consolida ajacis

‘Fancy Smokey Eyes’

SMOKEY EYES LARKSPURS

Syn. Delphinium consolida

Consolida ajacis ‘Fancy Smokey Eyes’
SMOKEY EYES LARKSPURS
Syn. Delphinium consolida

Consolida ajacis ‘Fancy Smokey Eyes’ is an antique variety, with very unusual colouring.

Spires of palest lavender with smokey lavender-grey eyes 

The colour of ‘Fancy Smokey Eyes’ is wonderful – with Larkspur flowers of palest pale lavender, with a lavender streak, a smokey eye, and green edge, to each bloom.
Superb colouring.

Heritage variety of Larkspur

Consolida ajacis ‘Fancy Smokey Eyes’ is an antique variety, with impeccable heritage and health.
Blooms are usually fully frilly doubles, though a few semi-doubles and singles may also occur – all are lovely.

Unique colouring

It has never been replaced by newer varieties, and never fallen from favour with its unique colouring.
(Consolida ajacis is the new botanical name for Delphinium consolida – but whichever botanical name you use – they are still good, old-fashioned Larkspurs).

Excellent commercial cut flowers & great garden show

And ‘Fancy Smokey Eyes’ is still one of the most eye-catching of Larkspurs.
Still sensational as commercial cut flowers and loved by flower farmers and florists.
But also loved by home gardeners for putting on a great show in the garden.

Standing strong with long spires, clothed in flowers

Larkspurs have strong and tall stems, reaching from 90cm to over 1m.
With the flowers on different spires varying from double to semi-double and single – all lovely, and all densely packed.
Fine ferny foliage also helps make Larkspurs such refined and pretty plants.

Superb florist’s flowers & garden display

Larkspurs have long been a favourite for professional florists as well as home gardeners.
Because they are one of the easiest commercial cut-flower crops to grow.
While the beautiful soft colouring makes ‘Fancy Smokey Eyes’ very stylish and popular.
It has all the old-world heritage charm.

Robust health & easy to grow

Sometimes antique varieties fall from favour because they have lost their vigour and health along the way.
However this is certainly not the case for Consolida ajacis ‘Fancy Smokey Eyes’.
It has robust health, and is just as easy to grow and disease free as any modern-bred cultivar.

Long blooming in garden & vase

Larkspur flowers open from the bottom, and then work their way up, blooming eventually to the tip of the stem.
So each stem offers flowers for a very long period indeed, and blooms continue to open well in a vase.
They are completely reliable for a great garden show during spring and early summer, without much fuss.

Indispensable for spring bridal bouquets & chic flower gardens

Consolida ajacis ‘Fancy Smokey’ is indispensable for spring bridal bouquets and floral arrangements, or for putting on an early and luxurious garden display.
They don’t mind blooming in the fickle and cold weather of early spring.
In fact they prefer flowering in cool weather.

Commercial favourite for making eco-friendly confetti or pot-pourri

Big fields of Larkspurs are grown each year to supply eco-friendly, biodegradable confetti, and dried petals for pot-pourri.
Because the petals dry and store so well, holding their colour beautifully.
Larkspurs also have optimum value for confetti production, because they have literally hundreds of blooms per plant.

Quick from seed to flowers

Larkspurs are generally blooming and ready to begin harvesting in 10-14 weeks after the seed is sown.

Harvesting for best vase life

For longest vase life – harvest the spires when the first flowers begin to open on the bottom 1/3 of the stem.
Stems of Larkspur have a vase life of approximately one week.

Harvesting for best confetti production

Harvest when most of the flowers are open up the stems but before the petals begin to fade and drop.
Drying for confetti or pot-pourri takes  2–4 weeks at 20-26°C.

Rabbit & deer plus pest & disease resistant

The hated munching pests do not like the taste of Larkspurs, and seem to know that Larkspurs should not be ingested. By either rabbits or people.
Likewise, pests and diseases also generally leave Larkspurs well alone.

Bonus for bees, butterflies & pollinators

All of our pollinating friends cant believe their luck when they spot a clump of Larkspurs.
Larkspurs are nectar on a stick to pollinators (a very tall stick!!).

Easy & quick to grow

Consolida ajacis ‘Fancy Smokey Eyes’ is a fast and easy grower, providing it is grown during the cooler months.
Plant in a full sun position, or it can take some afternoon shade in hotter districts.
Larkspurs like to grow in well-drained soil, and will lap up all fertilizers gladly.
After all, they are prolific bloomers with hundreds of flowers and repeats of spires – so no surprise they need plenty of tucker.
They also enjoy lightly alkaline soil pH, so some lime is beneficial in acid soils.

Cut & come again

So the more you cut, the more they bloom.

Reliably self-sows

Consolida ajacis ‘Fancy Smokey Eyes’ is a very reliable self-sowing annual.
So if you would like some volunteer plants for next spring – just leave some spires to go to seed.
Spectacular branching spires 90-120cm High x slender plant of ferny foliage 30-45cm Wide.

SEED SOWING ADVICE: QUICK & EASY
Suitable for beginners & gardening with kids

Consolida ajacis ‘Fancy Smokey Eyes’ seeds are easy and quick to germinate.

Sow seeds directly into the garden in late autumn, winter or early spring.
Seed germination benefits from a cold spell, so late spring sowings are not recommended.
OR
Sow indoors when suitably cool temperatures can be provided (10-13°C).
Larkspur seedlings are best planted out in the garden when the weather is still cool to cold.

Sow seeds indoors when suitable temperatures can be provided: First sow the seeds in a deep punnet / or in small but deep pots, on the surface of good quality seed raising mix.
And cover with 6mm of sieved mix or sandy grit.
These seeds need dark to germinate.
So it is a good idea to cover the punnet with cardboard or plastic to exclude light.

They need to be sown in a deep punnet or pot, as the seedlings quickly develop a long tap root.

Now thoroughly moisten the mix by standing the punnet in a shallow water bath and allowing the moisture to percolate up to the surface of the mix from below.

Then wrap the moist, sown punnet in cling wrap or a plastic bag and place in the fridge (not freezer) for 7 days.
This chilling period is not strictly necessary for germination – but it does enhance the germination rate.

Larkspur seeds germinate in cool weather

After 7 days remove the punnet from the fridge, unwrap, moisten thoroughly again, and place in a cool, shaded position (not in any direct sunlight).
Outside on a cool, fully shaded verandah, or in a shade house, is ideal.
Temperatures of 10-13°C approx. are best for rapid and optimum germination.
Seeds will germinate poorly if soil temperatures are above 15°C.

Then continue to keep consistently moist by misting regularly with a spray water-bottle.
Covering the punnet with a clear plastic cover will also help to maintain consistent moisture and prevent drying out.

Seedlings emerge in approx. 14-21 days.

Seed Count: 150 seeds per pack approx.
(We always aim to exceed the stated seed count and give a generous serve).

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