Heirloom

QIS™ Light Blue

Consolida ajacis

Photo: Mirisa56 · Wikimedia Commons · (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Features tall spires of dense florets. Plants produce silvery lavender-colored, double blooms with a small percentage of singles. 1 1/2-1 3/4" florets on 9-12" flower spikes. Very similar to the Sublime series, which QIS™ replaced. Attracts hummingbirds.

Harvest

80-90d

Days to harvest

📅

Sun

Full sun

☀️

Zones

1–11

USDA hardiness

🗺️

Height

12-18 inches

📏

Planting Timeline

Zone:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Start Indoors

Transplant

Direct Sow

Start Indoors

Transplant

Direct Sow

Showing dates for QIS™ Light Blue in USDA Zone 7

All Zone 7 flower →

Zone Map

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QIS™ Light Blue · Zones 1–11

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Easy

Spacing12-18 inches

SoilWell-draining, moisture-retentive loam with compost amendment

WaterRegular; approximately 1 inch per week, consistent moisture but not waterlogged

SeasonWarm season annual

ColorSilvery lavender

Size1 1/2-1 3/4"

Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar

Zone	Indoor Start	Transplant	Direct Sow	Harvest
Zone 1	May – June	July – August	July – September	—
Zone 2	April – May	June – July	June – August	—
Zone 11	January – January	January – February	January – March	—
Zone 12	January – January	January – February	January – March	—
Zone 13	January – January	January – February	January – March	—
Zone 3	April – May	June – July	June – August	—
Zone 4	March – April	June – June	June – July	—
Zone 5	March – April	May – June	May – July	—
Zone 6	March – April	May – June	May – July	—
Zone 7	February – March	April – May	April – June	—
Zone 8	February – March	April – May	April – June	—
Zone 9	January – February	March – April	March – May	—
Zone 10	January – January	February – March	February – April	—

Succession Planting

Direct sow QIS Light Blue every 3 weeks starting April 1 through early June in zone 7. The window closes fast — once daytime highs are consistently above 80°F, germination drops off and the plants that do emerge bolt before they fill out properly. A late-April sowing will usually overlap nicely with an early-April one, giving you a longer cutting window without a gap in bloom.

For a fall flush, sow again in late September once soil temps drop back below 70°F; the plants overwinter as small rosettes in zone 7 and bloom earlier the following spring than any spring-direct-sown batch. That fall sowing is worth trying at least once — bloom timing in March and early April is hard to beat any other way.

Complete Growing Guide

Growing QIS™ Light Blue (Consolida ajacis) flower. Light: Full sun. Hardy in USDA zones 1 to 11. Days to maturity: 80. Difficulty: Easy.

Harvesting

QIS™ Light Blue reaches harvest at 80 - 90 days from sowing per Johnny's Selected Seeds. Expect 1 1/2-1 3/4" at peak. As an annual, harvest continues until frost ends the season.

This is an ornamental variety — not grown for harvest. Enjoy in the garden landscape.

Storage & Preservation

Fresh cut flowers last 7–10 days in a clean vase with fresh water and floral preservative, kept in a cool location away from ripening fruit and direct sun. Change water every 2–3 days and recut stems to maintain water uptake.

For seed saving—the most practical preservation method—allow spent flower spikes to fully dry on the plant. Once papery and brown, harvest into a bag and dry indoors at room temperature for 1–2 weeks. Rub gently to release seeds from capsules, then store in an airtight container with a silica packet in cool (50°F), dry conditions. Properly stored seeds remain viable for 2–3 years.

For gardeners interested in pressing flowers for crafts or arrangements, harvest spikes at peak bloom and press between heavy books or in a flower press for 3–4 weeks. Pressed QIS™ Light Blue flowers retain silvery-lavender color beautifully and can be stored in airtight containers for years.

History & Origin

Consolida ajacis is an annual flowering plant of the family Ranunculaceae native to Eurasia. It is widespread in other areas, including much of North America, where it is an introduced species. It is frequently grown in gardens as an ornamental for its spikes of blue, pink or white flowers. It may reach a meter in height. Since the aerial parts and seeds of C. ajacis have been found to contain diterpenoid alkaloids, including the highly toxic methyllycaconitine, the plants should be considered as poisonous.

Advantages

+Tall 9-12" spikes create dramatic vertical interest in garden displays.
+Silvery lavender double blooms offer unique color unavailable in most larkspur.
+Attracts hummingbirds, adding dynamic wildlife activity to the garden.
+Easy 80-90 day timeline makes this variety beginner-friendly and reliable.
+Improved upon Sublime series genetics for better performance and consistency.

Considerations

-Delphinium family plants susceptible to powdery mildew in humid conditions.
-Prefers well-draining soil; heavy clay soils lead to root rot.
-Dense flower spikes require deadheading to extend blooming period effectively.
-Small percentage of single blooms reduces uniformity in commercial cut arrangements.

Companion Plants

Marigolds (especially French types like 'Bonanza') deter aphids that would otherwise cluster on larkspur's tender new growth, and the color contrast doesn't hurt your arrangements any. Sweet Alyssum planted 6–8 inches in front draws in parasitic wasps that keep caterpillar pressure down. Dusty Miller earns its spot for a different reason: same sun and water requirements, and the silver foliage makes the pale blue spikes read sharply in a cutting bed. In our zone 7 Georgia gardens, that Alyssum-and-Dusty-Miller border has held up well through April's erratic swings between 40°F nights and 75°F afternoons. Black Walnut is the one to avoid — juglone seeps from the roots across a wide radius and will stunt larkspur badly, sometimes killing plants that look fine going in.

Plant Together

Marigolds

Repel aphids, whiteflies, and nematodes while attracting beneficial insects

Sweet Alyssum

Attracts beneficial predatory insects and provides ground cover

Nasturtiums

Act as trap crops for aphids and flea beetles, drawing pests away

Petunias

Repel aphids, tomato hornworms, and squash bugs

Lobelia

Complementary growth habit and similar growing requirements

Dusty Miller

Provides silvery foliage contrast and similar sun/soil requirements

Bacopa

Cascading habit complements upright growth, similar care needs

Calibrachoa

Similar growing conditions and blooming period, creates color harmony

Keep Apart

Black Walnut

Produces juglone which is toxic to most flowering annuals

Sunflowers

Allelopathic compounds inhibit growth of nearby smaller plants

Eucalyptus

Releases allelopathic chemicals that suppress growth of other plants

Troubleshooting QIS™ Light Blue

What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.

Seedlings collapsing at the soil line, stems pinched and brown, within 7–14 days of germination

Likely Causes

Damping off (Pythium or Rhizoctonia spp.) — soil-borne fungi that thrive in cold, wet, poorly drained seed-starting mix
Overwatering or trays left sitting in standing water

What to Do

1.Ditch that flat and start fresh — damping off doesn't reverse
2.Use a sterile, well-draining seed-starting mix and water from below rather than overhead
3.Thin to one seedling per cell so air can move; larkspur packed tight is larkspur that rots

Spindly, elongated stems with pale foliage and almost no branching, usually noticed 3–4 weeks after germination indoors

Likely Causes

Insufficient light — grow lights placed more than 4 inches above the tray, or a window with less than 6 hours of direct sun
Starting too early indoors; larkspur doesn't transplant well once it's root-bound, and the delay just produces weak plants

What to Do

1.Move grow lights to within 2–3 inches of the seedling tops, or set them on a 16-hour timer
2.If you're past mid-March in zone 7, skip the indoor start entirely and direct sow — QIS Light Blue germinates fine in cool spring soil around 55–65°F
3.Harden off any leggy transplants over 7–10 days before moving them out; don't rush it

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does QIS™ Light Blue take to bloom from seed?▼

QIS™ Light Blue reaches full bloom 80–90 days after sowing. For faster flowering, start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before your last spring frost, then transplant outdoors after frost danger passes. Direct sowing after frost takes closer to 90–100 days to first bloom. Temperature, light, and consistent moisture influence germination and growth speed—warmer conditions accelerate development.

Is QIS™ Light Blue good for beginners?▼

Yes. This variety is rated easy to grow and forgiving of minor mistakes. It thrives in full sun with basic care: regular water, monthly fertilizer, and good drainage. The main challenge for beginners is providing enough sunlight—partial shade leads to disappointment. Starting from seed indoors is straightforward; direct sowing works too but takes longer to bloom. Overall, QIS™ Light Blue is an excellent confidence-building choice.

Can you grow QIS™ Light Blue in containers?▼

Absolutely. Use containers at least 12 inches deep and 10 inches wide with drainage holes. Fill with quality potting mix, not garden soil. Container-grown plants may dry faster, so check soil moisture every 2–3 days in warm weather. Pinching back the growing tip when plants are 6–8 inches tall encourages more compact growth ideal for pots. Feed every 2–3 weeks with balanced liquid fertilizer since containers offer fewer nutrients than ground soil.

Why does my QIS™ Light Blue produce mostly single blooms instead of doubles?▼

This variety naturally produces a small percentage of single blooms—it's inherent to the genetics and rarely indicates a problem. However, if the ratio of singles exceeds 20–30%, check growing conditions: insufficient light reduces double-bloom formation, as does inconsistent watering or low fertility. Ensure 6–8 hours of direct sun daily, water consistently, and fertilize monthly with balanced formula. Some gardeners find that slightly cooler spring conditions favor more doubles.

When is the best time to plant QIS™ Light Blue seeds?▼

For spring/early summer blooms, sow seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before your last spring frost. For continuous bloom into fall, sow directly in the garden after the last frost date. In warm climates (zones 9–10), sow again in midsummer for fall flowers. QIS™ Light Blue thrives in moderate temperatures (65–75°F during growth); extreme summer heat can stress plants, so spring and early-summer planting often yields the best results.

How does QIS™ Light Blue compare to the Sublime series?▼

QIS™ Light Blue was bred as a direct replacement for Sublime, retaining the tall spires, silvery-lavender color, and double-bloom characteristics gardeners loved. QIS™ offers improved vigor, more consistent flowering, and better disease resistance than older Sublime varieties. If you grew Sublime previously, you'll recognize the appearance immediately. QIS™ simply delivers greater reliability and abundance of blooms with the same elegant aesthetic.