About
An elegant variety, characterised by tall spires densely populated with unique flowers edged in pale purple, fading to a white centre. Adds height and structure to a border and helps to enhance biodiversity by attracting bees and other pollinating insects.
About the genus
Delphinium can be annuals, biennials or perennials, with palmately lobed basal leaves and showy bowl-shaped flowers in spikes, racemes or panicles
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun
Soil typeChalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAlkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained
AspectEast-facing, South-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH5
Plant details
Plant typeHerbaceous Perennial
HabitClump forming, Columnar upright
FoliageDeciduous
Height0.5-1 metres
Spread0.5-1 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesCity and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Wildlife gardens
ToxicityHumans/Pets: Harmful if eaten
Care notes
CultivationGrow in a fertile, well-drained soil in full sun, away from windy sites. Apply a balanced liquid every couple of weeks in the growing season. For strong flower spikes thin shoots when 7cm high, leaving a minimum of 2-3 shoots on young plants and 5-7 shoots on established plants. See staking perennials and delphinium cultivation for further advice
PruningDeadhead by cutting spent flower spikes back to small flowering side shoots. Cut down all growth to ground level after it has withered in autumn
PropagationPropagate by seed sown at 15-20°C in early spring
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to aphids, earwigs, delphinium leaf miner, delphinium moth caterpillars, slugs, snails and caterpillars
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to powdery mildews, delphinium black blotch, crown rot and viruses