The Legend of Larkspur: July's Birth Flower and Its Old-World Meaning

Quick answer: Larkspur is July's official birth flower, named for its spur-shaped bloom resembling a lark's claw, and its botanical name Delphinium comes from the Greek word for dolphin — it symbolizes an open heart and was historically used for protection against ill will.

Larkspur takes its common name from the spur-shaped back of each bloom, thought to resemble a lark's hind claw, but its botanical name, Delphinium, comes from the Greek word for dolphin — early botanists thought the unopened flower bud resembled one. As July's official birth flower, larkspur has long been associated with an open heart and strong bonds of love, and in some old European traditions it was tucked into bathwater or hung near doorways as protection against ill will, a plant believed to ward off as much as it beautified.

A Delicate Bloom With a Devoted Following

Larkspur has never been an easy cut flower to work with, fresh or dried. Its stems are hollow and its petals thin, which means dried larkspur can shed if handled too roughly or dropped — a characteristic that could be seen as fragility but that longtime fans of the flower treat as part of its charm, since the scattered petals it leaves behind have their own quiet, romantic quality rather than reading as mess.

Styling With Blue and White

Our Blue Larkspur Garden Bouquet pairs the flower's natural blue and white tones with a few sprigs of lavender for fragrance, a combination well suited to a Greek-inspired wedding palette or simply a classic blue-and-white home decor scheme. Because the color is so specifically cool-toned, it works best displayed on its own rather than blended into a warm-toned arrangement, where its delicate blues can get visually lost next to golds and creams.

Handling and Displaying Dried Larkspur

Because the stems are fragile, larkspur is best displayed rather than repeatedly rearranged — choose a spot for it once, in a vase or jar with some support at the base, and leave it there rather than moving it from room to room. If a few petals do shed over time, they're easy to sweep into a small dish rather than the trash; potpourri made from dried larkspur petals holds its blue color remarkably well and makes use of exactly the fragility the flower is known for. For a July birthday gift or a summer wedding with a coastal or Mediterranean theme, it remains one of the few dried flowers whose meaning and color do the styling work for you.

FAQ

Why is larkspur called Delphinium?

Early botanists thought the unopened flower bud resembled a dolphin, which is "delphin" in Greek.

What does larkspur symbolize?

An open heart and strong bonds of love, and in old European traditions it was believed to ward off ill will when hung near doorways or added to bathwater.

Is dried larkspur fragile?

Yes — its hollow stems and thin petals mean it can shed if handled too roughly, so it's best displayed in one spot rather than repeatedly rearranged.