Consolida 'Imperial Dark Blue'

Trial: Annual

Years Trialed: 2003

Good Qualities

Good dark blue color (6); More disease resistant than others in this trial; Disease resistant, no rust problems; Stem strength; Incredible number of blooms, rebloomed until late Aug (Zone 6b); Customers love this deep blue violet, can never have too much.

Problems

Rabbits damaged plants so they are spotty in performance; Did not stake and plants lodged at 4 inches; Stem length, but I might need to be taught how to cut them better; Would prefer to direct seed in fall (Zone 7); We lost a few plants to a crown rot, either Erwinia or Pythium.

Comments

Similar to 'Sublime' (2) or QIS; Planted in high tunnel and performed well, larkspur is generally hard for us to grow; We did not find significant differences between this and the Keift QIS larkspur, so seed prices would be the final deciding factor for production; Great for dried work; From past experience, we have found 'QIS Dark Blue' to be more uniform and double than 'Imperial'.


Trial Data

Consolida 'Imperial Dark Blue'
Yield (stems/plant) Stem Length (inches) Market Appreciation Rating¹ Repeat Again Rating¹ Ease of Cultivation Rating¹ Average Spacing (in2)
Wholesale Retail Consumer
Average 8.8 21.0 3.5 3.6 4.3 3.7 4.0 66
Range of Responses 1-45 11-40 3-4 2-4 3-5 1-5 3-5 4-144


¹1 to 5 scale, with 5 being the best. Market ratings are based on sales to wholesalers, retailers, or final consumers direct.


Supplier

Fred C. Gloeckner 600 Mamaroneck Ave. Harrison, NY 10528-1613