
Planting, Growing, and Caring for Delphinium
Types
- Belladonna Group: blue flowers native to North America; easier to grow and longer-lived than varieties in the Elatum Group (below); upright, loose, and branching perennials; secondary flower spikes extend bloom period into autumn; 3 to 4 feet tall. ‘Blue Donna’ has clear, blue flowers.
- Elatum Group: tallest varieties in shades of violet, blue, pink, and/or white; short-lived; reach 6 feet tall or more. ‘Aurora Deep Purple’ has purple flowers with a white center.
- Pacific Hybrids: 3-inch violet, blue, and pink flowers; short-lived; tolerate warm/hot climates as annuals; giant (3- to 6-foot) heirlooms and dwarf hybrids. ‘King Arthur’, 5 to 6 feet tall, has plum flowers with white centers.
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Bought this plant in full bloom 2 years ago and planted it in a new bed with fresh deep earth and mulch. It has half a day in full sun and half a day in shade. It grows nice strong thick 5 to 7 leafy stalks growing tall to about a yard and a half tall, and puts all its growing to growing green and tall throughout the spring and summer but for the last two years , no flowers at all. How can I get this plant to produce flowers?
I don't know what the dead part looks like. Sometimes I think the white is dead, but other white looks like it's the new blooms starting. What is the green pod? Should I remove it. The only thing I am confident about is when the blue dries out!
Could you post pictures of the parts and what to deadhead?
Sounds like to me, you did not get any pollinators (Bee’s or butterfly’s) that first year they were planted. Awe that’s sad. It’s best to plants several pollinator favorites together at the same time. To guarantee they smell and will come. Marigolds, purple hyssops, Phlox and candy tuff, they like keep in mind flowers are Regional and species by favorite. Meaning each region has specific butterfly’s and therefore each species has their favorite flowers. Check for the species that favor your region and plant their specific favorite flower .. I don’t know if it is too late for your flowers to bud.
Hi I bought some beautiful delphinium plants mid July. The nursery had them in the Perennial section. I hooked the informations to each plant but either birds ran off with them or ? Anyway...they all went to seed and I took all the little pods off and emptied the seeds into baggies. Now Im wondering if that was right? Should I go dump the seeds with the plant? Im not a good gardener...Ive been told non jokingly that I should not have a yard! I agree. So what do I do with the seeds? Deb
You could dump the seeds near the plant. Some delphs grow easily from seed, some do not. If you want to grow the seeds (or plants) sucessfully, you should test your soil. Here’s some advice: https://www.almanac.com/news/gardening/gardening-advice/how-take-soil-test
Delphiniums do poorly in acidic or neutral soil. So, if you prefer not to test at this time, broadcast lime, wood ashes, or a mixture of the two over the soil you would use for this alkaline-loving perennial. Learn more about soil amendments.
Overall, re whether the seeds will set, consider contacting the source you bought them from for information. They may be able to tell you what type they are.
I have just purchased 2plants in pots is it ok to plant out now
I have seen delphiniums on sale now. Can I plant out now?
Hi Mary,
It’s too late to plant delphiniums now; they should be planted in the spring. Delphiniums don’t like hot, dry weather like that of the summer.
I know it's not ideal, but I have a delphinium in a shady garden that needs to be moved. The whole bed needs to be dug out and redone. My question is, will it be worth the effort, or will I kill it? It's a nice big plant, and I do have a better location for it. It is blooming, but the stems all fell over, and are laying flat. So I thought I would just cut them off totally, then move it. I am in zone 3b, and we are having 80degree days, 60 degree nights.
There may be several factors that put the plant at risk, not moving it alone. Soil conditions are key: well draining and alkaline being paramount, and a thin layer of compost each pring, followed by 2 inches of mulch to help retain moisture (soil should not dry out) and deter weeds. Lifting and dividing should be done in the spring; can you wait?? These plants are not fond of heat. So that and lack of sun (they’ll tolerate light shade) could be the reason/s its flagging. Remember, if you lose it, you can get another one.