Delphinium Species, Larkspur, Candle Delphinium

Is on its second year in my garden. Its first season it bloomed beautifully but did need some staking to stay upright. This year it's tak...Read Moreing off and the stems look strong and sturdy--I may not need to stake it. I've yet to see buds on it, but we're late this season due to a harsh winter. Foliage growth is very vigorous and healthy.

I haveit in a small bed near my front porch. It's growing well in clay soil amended with compost. The plant has average water needs and hasn't required any babying other than to get it established last year.

some germination notes:

Sow at 71-75*F; germination in less than 2 weeks.

Park's Success with Seeds (1978) ...Read Morefurther notes that seeds of delphinium have a short-term viability, so should not be stored, but sown as fresh as possible. Also, that seed should be covered as they require darkness to germinate.

From a source I can't remember: If you're sowing seed in the summer, it might help to refrigerate the seed a couple of weeks before sowing to facilitate germination.

Ours was grown from seed by methods #1 & 3 above in summer a few years ago, and in spite of only getting half a day's sun "thanks" to a monster silver maple, has been a great time machine taking us back to by-gone times, coming up through rue, southernwood and yellow roses.

I grow this plant in dryish shade in clay loam with river rock over it. It does fine there if the bugs don't eat it.

I have delphiniums growing all over in various gardens around our property. Wonderful short-lived perennial that I grow for use in dried...Read More arrangements (and just to enjoy them nodding in the breeze!).
I grow several types: Black Knight and Round Table mixture being the most prevalent in my garden and have colors like deep blue with white or black bees, lavendar, violet, white and pink. Although for drying I prefer the dark blue, the violet/lavendar are probably my favorite - so delicate yet just awesome in color.

They grow well in full sun here in zone 5, in well drained soil. Very hardy - have lived through winters with no protection (mulch) down to -25 degrees and come back like gangbusters. If cut back after first flowers, will comeback to rebloom all the way until frost. Some powdery mildew problems so make sure and discard all leaves and stems when you cut back or cut down for the winter.

Deer resistant for me, however, a friend that lives a few miles away reported that deer ate all of her blooms in one night. Guess it just depends on taste! I was very surprised to hear this as I believed this plant would be toxic to deer as well.