Cultivating Delphiniums: A Comprehensive Guide
Tall, stunning delphiniums will steal the show in your garden! During June and July, these majestic plants soar up to 2m tall, adorned with sapphire blue, pink, white, mauve, or even red flowers. The single or double blooms are beloved by bees and look gorgeous in a bouquet. Delphinums, part of the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae), have been a British favorite for centuries. The name 'delphinium' comes from Greek, meaning dolphin, attributed to the flower's shape. They're also known as larkspurs, dating back to Tudor times.
Unfortunately, delphiniums are poisonous to humans, pets, and livestock. Be cautious when handling them and use protective gear.
Growing Delphiniums:
Delphiniums love moist but well-drained soil in full sun. To help drainage, add grit to heavy soils. Protect shoots from slugs in spring and provide them with a high potash fertilizer weekly. After blooming, cut back stems and mulch in autumn.
Top tips from Home Farm Plants:Keep delphiniums slug-free and learn how to care for them over winter in this video guide.
Planting:
The best site for delphiniums is in moist but well-drained soil in full sun. Tall and air-loving, plants do best at the back of a sunny border, away from windy spots and other shade.
How to Plant:
Plant delphiniums in spring or autumn for optimal growth. Dig a hole, add compost or well-rotted manure, then place the plant at the same depth it was before, backfilling gently and watering well.
Caring for Delphiniums:
When the first shoots emerge, stake taller varieties with canes or a frame they can grow through. Delphiniums thrive in cooler temperatures and need regular feeding. Stake the emerging shoots, protect them from slugs, water them, and tend to them regularly.
Pests and Problems:Monitor the soil around delphiniums for signs of powdery mildew, rust, and black blotch. Use garlic drench, organic slug pellets, or biological controls to keep pests at bay.
Where to buy Delphiniums:Buy delphiniums online from retailers like Blackmore & Langdon, Crocus, Suttons, or Van Meuwen. Choose delphiniums suitable for your garden size, inspect them for health, and be aware of the ultimate size of each variety.
Plant Size:Height: 200Spread: 90
Delphinium Varieties:The Elatum Group, Belladonna, Pacific Hybrids, and Magic Fountain Series are popular delphinium varieties. Varying in size and color, these long-stemmed flowers add drama to any garden display.
For a stunning blue delphinium, check out 'Amadeus.' Tall, sturdy, and dark-eyed, it makes for a captivating cut flower. Other notable varieties include 'Pacific Hybrids,' 'Rising Stars,' 'Magic Fountain,' 'Faust,' 'Cinderella,' 'Vespers,' and 'Pandora.'
Fun Fact:The Greek word 'delphinium' means dolphin, which refers to the flower's shape. The common name 'larkspur' dates back to Tudor times.
Delphiniums, often regarded as a staple in home-and-garden and lifestyle gardening, require moist but well-drained soil and full sun for optimal growth. During planting, they are best situated at the back of a sunny border in the home garden, away from windy spots and shade, similar to being in a protected cove, reflecting their dolphin-like nature, as indicated by their name 'delphinium' (Greek for dolphin).
