The Pretty Purple Self-Seeding Flower That Comes Back Every Year On Its Own

Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just beginning your journey, creating a gorgeous flower-filled patch can be made really easy if you select varieties that are self-seeding. These types of annual flowers can usually be sown in spring and will grow quickly to produce their stunning blooms. Then, as the flowers fade, they produce seed heads that contain lots of tiny seeds. As these drop to the ground, they rest in the soil through the winter and then sprout when the weather warms up. So essentially, if you select self-seeding flowers, you only have to plant them once, but you get their enjoyment year after year. While there are plenty of self-seeding flowers that effortlessly fill your yard with color, one such garden wonder, which has the prettiest purple flowers, is known as rocket larkspur.

This is one of those plants that has some confusion around the correct botanical name. It can be referred to either as Delphinium ajacis or Consolida ajacis. It can also be commonly known as doubtful knight's spur or even doubtful larkspur, but for clarity, we'll just refer to it as rocket larkspur. This is the species form which has a single flower stem with masses of small purple or lavender-colored flowers. These stems can reach a height of up to 3 feet, making this a good candidate for the back of a border or to mix in with wildflowers of a similar height. The foliage is fern-like, giving the plant a lovely soft appearance. Once the seed heads form, they split open on their own when they're sufficiently dry, and the seeds drop to the ground below so they can surprise you again with new flowers the following year.

It might interest you to know that larkspur is one of those flower varieties that Joanna Gaines relies on for a colorful garden. If you want the same, the best way to add some rocket larkspur to your yard is by sowing seeds in fall or early spring. As the seeds benefit from a little cold stratification, keep them in the refrigerator for around two weeks if you're planning to sow them in the garden once the weather warms. Those sown in the fall should receive the cold they need to successfully germinate. You want to choose a fairly sunny spot for your rocket larkspur, although these flowers can handle a little shade. Make sure the soil drains well and doesn't stay consistently wet after rain. These particular plants do develop taproots, so it's best to direct sow in the garden rather than starting them indoors in pots, and also the reason you should never buy these flowers as seedlings.

Once the seeds have germinated, you should start to see the first blooms in around six to eight weeks. Keep the plants reasonably well hydrated because long periods of dry weather will cause stunted growth. For continuous flowers into fall, consider sowing some more seeds a few weeks later. The pretty purple flowers are filled with nectar and pollen and will attract bees, butterflies, and nectar-eating birds. Just be aware that these plants are toxic to humans and animals, so make sure you keep them away from pets and children.