Delphinium, or Larkspur as many of us call it, is a stunning perennial from the buttercup family. It’s a total showstopper in the garden, famous for its towering spikes and those gorgeous blossoms that usually come in every shade of blue and violet you can imagine. Believe it or not, there are around five thousand different varieties out there, and they can vary wildly when it comes to how tall they actually get.
Average Growth Height
Back in the day, you’d often see wild Larkspur waving in the fields, usually reaching between 2 and 3 feet tall. Nowadays, thanks to modern farming, wild varieties are a bit harder to spot. But the cultivated Delphiniums we love for our flower beds are much more impressive—they usually average between 4 and 5 feet, with some overachievers even hitting the 6-foot mark!
Because there are so many hybrids available at the garden center, the height of your Delphinium really depends on which one you pick. Here’s a quick look at some popular varieties and how high they typically climb:
- Augenweide: 4.5 – 5.2 ft
- Ariel: 4.3 ft
- Dämmerung: 5.2 ft
- Finteraarhorn: 5.6 ft
- Frühschein: 5.6 ft
- Jubelruf: 5.9 ft
- Perlmutterbaum: 5.9 ft
The Smallest Larkspur Varieties
If you don’t have room for a 6-foot floral tower, don’t worry! There are dwarf varieties that stay much closer to the ground. A great example is the “Blauer Zwerg” (Blue Dwarf), which only reaches about 12 inches. What it lacks in height, it makes up for with dense clusters of intense blue flowers.
These little guys are perfect for patio containers or balcony gardens because they don’t need much elbow room when grown in pots. Just keep in mind that these smaller perennials tend to be a bit less hardy and shorter-lived than their giant cousins.
The Giants of the Delphinium World
If you’re looking for a real “wow” factor and want the tallest plants possible, keep an eye out for *Delphinium elatum*. The name literally means “Tall Larkspur,” and it lives up to the hype, often soaring to nearly 7 feet tall. These are usually perennials that will grace your garden for up to five years.
While the wild version of *Delphinium elatum* is usually found high up in the Alps (sometimes at elevations over 6,000 feet!), the cultivated versions are perfectly happy in our backyard gardens at lower altitudes, provided you give them the right soil.
