Close-up of a specimen of Scarlet larkspur (Delphinium cardinale), ca.1920

Photograph of a close-up of a specimen of Scarlet larkspur (Delphinium cardinale), ca.1920. A single branch is shown, its flowers slightly wilted and small. The branch is shown against a dark background, with a swath of lighter tone directly behind it.; "This is a large group of very beautiful annuals and perennials commonly called Larkspurs. The original or wild types from which the named varieties are descended are natives of California, Siberia, Syria and India. The Delphiniums mostly seen in gardens are hybrids of D. elatum and are clump-forming perennials that bloom from early to mid-summer. Their leaves are divided, lobed, and range from mid- to bright green. Hybrids of D. belladonna are also clump-forming perennials, but with more thin, wiry stems that produce branched spikes of spurred flowers. Dwarf annual Delphiniums are descended from D. Ajacis and tall annual Larkspurs from D. Consolida. The height of the different varieties ranges from 3 to 8 feet, with some dwarf varieties only growing up to 18 inches high. The flowers of these plants grow in long spikes. They are cup-shaped and may be single or double with colors ranging from creamy-whites through lilac-pinks to dark indigo-blue, usually with a contrasting "eye" formed by the inner sepals. D. 'Strawberry Fair' has large, semi-double, mulberry-pink flowers with white eyes on plants that grow 5½ to 6 feet high. D. 'Sungleam' has large, semi-double, white overlaid with pale yellow flowers with yellow eyes. D. 'Blue Nile' grows from 5 to 5½ feet high and produces large, semi-double rich, dark blue flowers with blue-streaked white eyes. D. grandiflorum 'Blue Butterfly' only grows 18 inches high and has single, dark blue flowers, growing 1½ inches across. They are produced in airy, branching spikes up to 6 inches long. The bright green leaves are palmately divided. D. 'Spindrift' is an interesting plant with large, semi-double flowers that grow in 3-foot long spikes. They are a pinkish-lilac color overlaid with pale blue with creamy-white eyes, which have a deep blue center. On acidic soils, the petals become tinged with green. Other kinds will be described below in the varieties section." -- unknown author