Delphiniums bloom abundantly in late spring and summer and again in fall if the flowers are removed before the seed pods develop. If an indispensable flower exists, it is probably the petunia, a native of SouthAmerica, which adapts to almost every climatic condition. There are dwarf types 6 to 8 inches tall, and others that exceed 1 foot. Among their colors are solid red, crimson, blue, purple, pink, rose, coral, orange, salmon, cream and white as well as two-color combinations. The modern varieties provide larger and more vigorous blooms than could ever be obtained before.
Many petunias are fragrant, especially during the evening hours.
Since larkspurs are so different in appearance from perennial delphiniums, botanists have decided that they constitute a genus of their own, Consolida. By either name, larkspurs, which are natives of southern Europe, will continue to be cherished for their tall, beautiful spikes of feathery, petaled flowers, inshades of blue, salmon, rose, lilac, purple or white, set amid lacy bright-green foliage. Each type grows 3 feet tall, in Zones 9-10 these are planted early in the fall. Modern varieties provide large, blossom-laden flower heads, faintly fragrant, in a wide assortment of bright colors. Foliage rather than flowers makes these low-growing plants notable.