Gardeners have always known something that took science some time to figure out- larkspur and delphinium are not the same! Very close cousins, these two flowers may look alike but they are actually different geni (genuses? genii?... you know what I mean!). 
Delphinium and larkspur both make beautiful cut flowers and they're great for adding height to arrangements because of their sturdy stem, perfect for displaying the string of blooms they feature. Larkspur got their name from being compared to a lark's foot because of their unique pointed shape at the back of the flower. Delphinium, on the other hand, comes from the Latin word for dolphin, according to Wikipedia, because of the shape of the flower as it opens.
While these flowers have some overlap in their color ranges with pink, lavender, purple and white available in each, larkspur is the more colorful cousin, with a wider range of shades. Larkspur is even available with bi-color blooms. Delphinium is unique, however, in that it produces ones of nature's only truely blue flowers.
For those who garden, you'll be interested to know that the agriculture experts at the University of Arkansas say that, while delphinium has a reputation as being difficult to grow, larkspur is quite easy.
One major difference, however - most species of Delphinium are perennial, blooming every year without being re-planted. Larkspur (Consolida by scientific name) are annuals (and have sometimes even been called 'annual Delphinium'), though the most common species, Rocket Larkspur (Consolida regalis) does re-seed easily for planting year after year.
Do you have fun facts to share about our two flowers of the day? Leave us a comment!
*Note: Image sources - Red larkspur photo courtesy Tom Hilton; Blue delphinium photo courtesy Jo Jakeman - both used under creative commons attribution only license.
