The Larkspur Series is the result of an exclusive collaboration between Phoenix designer Larry Kornegay and Landscape Forms of Kalamazoo, Michigan.

“Subtle in shape and commanding in size,” these cast concrete planters combine all-climate durability with the contours of nature for a distinctive design solution that brings greenery to any outdoor space. With heights ranging from two to four feet high, these striking sculptural forms create a defined sense of place while providing the high quality of a craftsman’s touch. Each custom site furnishing is hand-crafted, and no two are exactly alike, except in the sense of a beautiful design.

The Larkspur Design
Landscape designers know that no two spaces are identical, and no one planter will fit the needs of every landscape. With this in mind, the Larkspur planters come in three sizes, each with analogous square shape and rounded corners. They are Kornegay’s interpretation of “big square meets round form,” and it is this simple concept that makes them ideal for project sites with contemporary lines or traditional aesthetic themes. While, individually stunning, the three pieces together form a triad so proportionally related that they evoke a family, harmonious in their complement to one another.

The 24-inch high planter is the smallest in the series, consisting of a 36-inch square dimension that weighs 800 pounds and can hold seven cubic feet (or 52 gallons) of planting material. It is ideally suited for low shrubs or flowers beds to frame building facades. The 30-inch high planter is more voluminous, with a 48-inch square that weighs 1,707 pounds and holds 17 cubic feet (127 gallons) of material. Its large square form allows more room for wide ferns or banana trees to spread their leaves. The last in the series is both the tallest and slimmest, 48 inches high with a 24-inch square that weighs 1,432 pounds and holds 10 cubic feet (75 gallons) of material. It provides a dramatic base for taller plants like palm trees to line long avenues or provide shade for outdoor pools. All three containers are free-standing with standard 2-inch drain holes.

Available only through Landscape Forms, these landscape containers bring visual interest to outdoor spaces by housing plants for any climate. Every piece is made from an individual batch of concrete, with a full range of mixable hues of integral pigment from Davis Colors, creating singular color choices to suit a variety of locations. A subtle shade can highlight the greenery in a space, while brighter colors can make the plant receptacles themselves a focal point in the landscape design.

Materials and Construction
Larry Kornegay is self-professed concrete enthusiast. He explains the appeal of the medium in interviews: “It is sensual, brutal, unpredictable, and beautiful.” In the Larkspur Series, the beauty of concrete and the artist’s love for it are on full display. The concrete used in these planters is made to last in high-traffic conditions and harsh climates. A smooth “as cast” finish is the standard exterior surface, however a sandblasted finish is available upon request.

Age and weather lend a patina to the containers allowing the concrete to exist symbiotically with its outdoor environment. Kornegay Design tests their Standard Proprietary Mix regularly, and its strength is measured between 5500 and 6500 pounds per square inch (psi), well above the 3500psi that is the industry standard. All of this results in custom site furnishings that are designed for longevity, even in active public spaces and cold weather environments.

Each piece is made from an individually mixed batch of cast concrete. This dedication to small-scale craftsmanship ensures that every single planter is a one of a kind with its own distinct surface quality and aesthetic appeal.

What’s in A Name?
Like several of Kornegay Design’s other site furnishing products, the Larkspur takes its name from nature. Two related genera of flowers—annuals of genus Consolida and perennials of genus Delphinium—are commonly called larkspurs for the spur-shaped calyx surrounding their petals. Larkspur flowers range in height, similar to the containers, and can even reach seven feet—perfectly suited to the slim 48-inch Larkspur planter. Both Consolida and Delphinium flowers are as variegated in form and color as the beautiful containers they lend their name to, and the soft lines and gentle curves make sense a source of inspiration for this fluid design.

Recognition and Awards
The Larkspur Series received a 2012 GOOD DESIGN Award from the European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies, and The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design. This worldwide award, established in 1950, celebrates influence and innovation with a special emphasis on the design’s ability to enrich society. With sustainable construction methods and materials, durable finished products, and a simple-yet-stunning design, it’s easy to see why the Larkspur Series garnered such acclaim.