Ranunculaceae
Candle Larkspur
Delphinium elatum
Tall spires of a classic garden perennial, grown outdoors with ease
Ermell via Wikimedia Commons (cc by_sa_4)
About this plant
Delphinium elatum is a true perennial, meaning it comes back year after year from the same root system. It belongs to the Ranunculaceae family, a large and ancient plant family that also includes buttercups and anemones. As a genus, Delphinium has a long history in ornamental gardens, and elatum is one of its most widely grown species, prized for the dramatic vertical structure it brings to a planting bed.
What makes this plant particularly appealing for first-time gardeners is its rated beginner difficulty. It grows outdoors and asks for only about ten minutes of care per week, making it one of the more manageable perennials you can put in the ground. Its USDA hardiness range spans zones 1a through 13b, an exceptionally wide band that covers nearly the entire United States, from the coldest corners of Alaska to the warmest reaches of the South and Hawaii. Wherever you garden, there is a good chance Delphinium elatum can grow there.
The gallery
Historical plates & modern photos
Bloom
Anton Hartinger via Wikimedia Commons (public domain)
Gallery
Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz via Wikimedia Commons (cc by_sa_4)
Gallery
Björn S. via Wikimedia Commons (cc by_sa_3)
How to grow it
Five steps, start to bloom.
Written for beginners. If you've never grown anything before, this is all you need to keep this plant alive and happy.
Pick a spot
Find a spot with enough light for its needs. Plant it outdoors, ideally sheltered from the harshest afternoon wind.
Plant it
Any good all-purpose potting mix or well-drained garden soil will do. Give each plant enough room for its mature spread. Crowding causes more problems than undersizing the bed. Water it in gently once it's settled.
Water it
Water when the top inch of soil feels dry, roughly once a week in summer. Soak the soil, then let it breathe before the next round.
Feed & tend
This one is very forgiving. A balanced all-purpose fertiliser at the start of the growing season is plenty, and you can skip a month without harm. Plan on 10 minutes a week of hands-on care: watering, a quick trim, checking for pests.
Enjoy it
Watch for new growth in spring and summer. If the leaves look tired, trim the oldest ones back to encourage fresh foliage.
Year at a glance
What to do, month by month.
Approximate for a temperate North American zone. Shift earlier the further south you garden, later the further north.
Jan
January: Rest
Dormant
Feb
February: Rest
Dormant
Mar
March: Wake up
New growth
Apr
April: Tend
Routine care
May
May: Tend
Routine care
Jun
June: Tend
Routine care
Jul
July: Tend
Routine care
Aug
August: Tend
Routine care
Sep
September: Tend
Routine care
Oct
October: Tend
Routine care
Nov
November: Wind down
Prep for dormancy
Dec
December: Rest
Dormant
Pet & people safety
Keep this plant away from pets and children.
The card below lists the species affected and the specific symptoms reported by the ASPCA or Pet Poison Helpline. Place it out of reach, and call the poison-control number if a pet or child has eaten any part of it.
Dogs
Severely toxic
Symptoms. Constipation, colic, muscle tremors, weakness, convulsions; cardiac arrhythmias possible.
Contains diterpenoid alkaloids. All parts are toxic; young plants and seeds are the most concentrated.
Source: ASPCA
Record covers Candle Larkspur toxicity for Dogs.
Cats
Severely toxic
Symptoms. Drooling, muscle tremors, weakness, cardiac effects.
Diterpenoid alkaloids. Keep well away from curious cats.
Source: ASPCA
Record covers Candle Larkspur toxicity for Cats.
Bloomwise is not a substitute for veterinary or medical advice. Every line above comes from a hand-verified reference.
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Frequently asked
Common questions.
- What USDA zones does Candle Larkspur grow in?
- Candle Larkspur is hardy in USDA zones 1a to 13b. If your winter lows fall outside that range, grow it in a container you can bring indoors, or treat it as an annual.
- How often should I water Candle Larkspur?
- Water about once a week in summer, adjusting for rainfall. Soak the soil, then let it breathe before watering again.
- How much sunlight does Candle Larkspur need?
- Candle Larkspur prefers four to six hours of sun, ideally morning light.
- Is Candle Larkspur safe for pets?
- No. Candle Larkspur is toxic to dogs and cats according to verified poison-control sources. Keep it out of reach. If your pet has eaten any part of it, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
- Is Candle Larkspur good for beginners?
- Yes, this is a forgiving plant that tolerates inconsistent watering and the occasional missed feeding. A good choice for a first garden.
Sources
Plant facts on this page come from a blend of public-domain and open-licensed datasets: Biodiversity Heritage Library (historical botanical illustrations, public domain), USDA PLANTS (taxonomy, public domain), GBIF (occurrence and taxonomy, CC-BY 4.0), OpenFarm (crop guides, CC-BY-SA 3.0), and Open-Meteo (climate and hardiness lookup, CC-BY 4.0). Toxicity records come from the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center and the Pet Poison Helpline; every row is hand-verified against a primary reference.