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Key characteristics

Family: Ranunculaceae
Height: 30-40 inches
Width: 12-16 inches
Flower color: Double, vivid blue flowers with purple overtones and white centers ("bees")
Foliage color: Deeply cut, dark green leaves
Bloom time: Late spring to mid-summer
Light: Full sun
Water: Average moisture
Maintenance: Cutting back in late fall is recommended
Growing zone: USDA zones 3a to 8
Wildlife: Attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds; deer and rabbit resistant

Perennials

Delphinium elatum 'Guardian Blue'

Guardian Blue Larkspur

Delphinium elatum 'Guardian Blue' produces tall, elegant spires adorned with rich, deep blue-purple flowers, each accented by a white central bee (nectary). Blooming from early to mid-summer, these densely packed blossoms create a bold vertical element in garden beds and borders. Bred as part of the Guardian series, this cultivar was developed for its strong stems and reliable flowering, making it a standout choice for both ornamental displays and cut flower arrangements.

Light

Full sun

Water

Average moisture

Bloom time

Late spring to mid-summer

Find this plant

Works well in

Borders
Sun Gardens
Pollinator Gardens
Hummingbird Gardens
Rain Gardens

Companion plants

Coneflowers · Salvias · Shasta daisies · Asters · Catmint · Coreopsis

Design tip

Summer flowers carry the middle of the season, so place it where the bed needs color once spring bulbs fade. Give it open sun and room to fill out, and repeat it in threes or fives so the planting reads as one sweep instead of scattered dots.

Printable plant sheet (PDF)