The larkspur that gives you more than one stem per plant. Where the single-spike varieties produce one column and stop, 'Giant Imperial' branches from the base into three to six flowering stems, which multiplies the harvest from any given patch of ground.
The flowers are fully double and ruffled in the classic cottage palette, violet, deep blue, rose, carmine and white, on rigid stems of a metre or more that need very little staking. It cuts well, dries beautifully, and the dried petals are the traditional biodegradable wedding confetti.
Two things matter when sowing. The seed needs darkness, so cover it with about 5mm of soil rather than surface-sowing. And it goes dormant if it gets too warm; a week in the freezer before sowing mimics a sharp frost and wakes it up. All parts are toxic if eaten, so wash your hands after handling and keep it away from children and pets.
