Larkspurs are strikingly lovely flowers of the genera Delphinium and Consolida. They’re summer flowers that are possibly best known for being a) extremely deadly to most things, and b) the birth flower for the month of…
July.
Okay, okay, I know what you’re thinking, and I have a very good reason for writing about them now. Despite their birth month symbolism and all that, they’re actually flowers that need a bit of cold. Depending on your zone, that means sowing the seeds in either autumn or early spring so they can get a bit of a chill in. Lately, gardening stuff has been on my mind. Ergo, I figured now’d be a good time to write about…
Well.
Gardening stuff.
Larkspur Magical Uses, Folklore, and Medicinal History
Like the lovely hellebore and lobelia, larkspur is poisonous. All parts of it. They’re actually a major contributor to cattle poisonings, to the point where farmers will delay grazing their cattle at high elevation pastures until summer, when the larkspur has chilled out a little and is slightly less likely to cause problems.[1]
The name Delphinium comes from the Greek word delphínion, meaning “dolphin.” According to Discorides, this is because of the shape of the flowers, which resemble dolphins if you kind of squint.[2] The English common name comes from the idea that their flowers resemble the feet of larks.
Mythologically, larkspur is a very interesting plant. In the story of Hyacinthos and Apollo, in which Apollo and Zephyros vie for the affections of Hyacinthos, Apollo ends up killing Hyacinthos either accidentally or in a fit of jealous rage. It’s usually said that Apollo turned Hyacinthos’ body into the hyacinth, but some scholars hold that the flower was the larkspur instead.[3]
Another story holds that the larkspur sprang up from Ajax’s blood. After the death of Achilles, Ajax and Odysseus vied for his armor. Athena supported the latter and drove Ajax mad. In his madness, he fell on his sword. Where his blood spilled, larkspur flowers grew.[4]
Larkspur appears to have somewhat limited medicinal and magical uses. As with many poisonous herbs, it’s associated with protection — the alkaloids in larkspur are cardiotoxic, cause respiratory arrest and digestive issues, and are generally irritating to skin. Just as they naturally repel most animals who’d eat them, planting them in one’s garden is said to repel evil. Some writers suggest using larkspur in protection baths, but, given its potential as a skin irritant, I would caution against this.
Some also cite larkspur as a love herb, but I haven’t done so. It does bloom during “wedding season,” and the flowers make beautiful bouquets, but most of its associations seem to spring from its toxicity and connection to warfare. Even the story of Hyacinthos and Apollo, where larkspur is essentially a symbol of Apollo’s love for Hyacinthos, ends in tragedy. Your mileage may vary, of course, but larkspur has never done much for me in love workings.
(Interestingly, its medicinal uses seem to primarily lie in its appearance. Multiple sources cite folk practices of looking either at larkspur (or through bunches of larkspur) to soothe tired eyes and guard against eye problems.)[5]
Even in Victorian floriography, larkspur is a bit… sketch. In general, larkspur is associated with lightness and levity. You know, the kind of stuff you’d expect from a pretty summer flower with tall blooms. However, this meaning depends heavily on its color — pink larkspur indicates a fickle nature, while purple represents haughtiness.[6]
Using Larkspur
The easiest, and probably most straightforward, way to use larkspur is to plant a native variety in your garden. Not only is this said to repel evil, but it’s a huge help to native bees, butterflies, songbirds, and hummingbirds.
You could also crush the dried flowers into a powder (or salt) for protection and sprinkle it around whatever it is you wish to protect — your property, a room, et cetera. However, I caution against sprinkling it where a house pet may be able to step in it or get it on their fur, since ingesting it during grooming could cause serious harm.
The dried flowers are also a good addition to protection jars, sachets, or other container spells. Honestly, container spells are one of my favorite ways to use baneful herbs — they work, they’re easy, and I don’t have to worry about anyone trying to eat them.
Larkspurs are a beautiful summer plant, but they need cool seasons and humid summers to grow. Don’t wait until summer to add them to your garden. Sow them now, so they have time to stratify and establish themselves properly. You’ll be rewarded with their protection, tall spikes of colorful flowers, and an abundance of native pollinators.
Marble Crow 