Delphinium

Delphinium
A genus of perennials, that are part of the larger family Ranunculacae.
They prefer deep, fertile, cool, moist, alkaline, well drained soil. Slugs will sometimes attack Delphiniums, they can be treated by sprinkling Diotomacous Earth around the plants. Leaf spot. Powdery Mildew and Root Rot are sometimes problems. Clumps can be divided during early spring.

* photo taken Aug 3 2010 @ Univ. of Guelph Arboretum, Ontario

* historical archive photo

* photos taken on May 20 2017 in Pikesville, MD

Delphinium x belladonna ( Belladona hybrids )
Graceful, branched perennials, reaching a maximum size of 5.5 x 3 ( rarely over 4 ) feet.
The finely divided leaves are up to 6 inches across. The foliage is deep green.
The white to deep blue flowers, up to 2 inches across, are borne on loose racemes during early summer.
Hardy zones 3 to 7 in full sun to partial shade.

* historic archive photo

'Bellamosum'
Intense deep blue flowers.

'Blue Bees'
Bright blue flowers.

'Lamartine'
Deep blue flowers

Delphinium brunonianum ( Musk Larkspur )
A perennial, reaching a maximum size of 20 inches x 1 foot, that is native to dry slopes from the Himalayas to eastern Asia.
The attractive, Maple-shaped leaves, up to 3 inches wide, are mid-green.
The pale blue flowers, up to 2 inches in length, are borne during early to mid summer.
Hardy zones 3 to 6 in full sun on light, well drained soil. Plants grown on heavy waterlogged soils often rot over the winter.

Delphinium cardinale ( Scarlet Larkspur )
A perennial ( often short-lived ) reaching a maximum size of 9 x 3 ( rarely over 6 ) feet, that is native to southern California and the Baja Peninsula.
The finely divided leaves, up to 9 inches, are deep green.
The scarlet-red ( with yellow center ), cup-shaped flowers, up to 1 inches across, are borne on open racemes during late spring to mid-summer.
Hardy zones 7 to 9, thriving in regions with 10 to 30 inches of average annual precip. In wetter climates it does not thrive and winter wetness can kill.

* photo of unknown internet source


Delphinium elatum ( D. x cultorum )
A perennial, reaching a maximum size of 10 x 4 ( rarely over 7 ) feet, that is native to temperate Eurasia. It has naturalized in parts of the Canadian Prairies.
The toothed, 5 or 7 lobed, Maple-shaped leaves are up to 8 x 9 inches.
The blue flowers, up to 1 inch across, are borne on dense spikes, up to 16 inches in length, during summer.
Hardy zones 2 to 7 in full sun to partial shade.
Plants cut back after the first flush of flowers will often rebloom during autumn.
Renew plantings every 3 years as the plants tend to become woody and begin to decline.

* photo taken on Aug 1988 @ Lake Louise, Alberta

* historic archive photo

'Astolat'
Reaches up to 8 x 3 feet with bright pink flowers.

'Black Knight'
Reaches up to 6 x 3 feet with deep violet flowers.

* photo taken by Milan Havlis, owner of central Europe's premier plant nursery

* black knight delphinium in Lions Head, ON

'Blue Bird'
Reaches up to 6 feet with mid-blue ( with white eye ) flowers.

* photos taken on July 17 2018 @ Leacock Museum in Orillia, ON

'Blue Fountain'
Compact, windproof strain, reaching up to 4 feet with flowers that come in white, lavender and blue or rose ( usually varying shades of blue ).

'Blue Heaven'
Double mid-blue flowers.

'Blue Jade'
Reaches up to 5 x 2 feet. The flowers are bright blue with a brown eye.

'Blue Jay'
Reaches up to 5 x 3 feet with mid-blue flowers.

'Blue Nile'
Reaches up to 5 feet, with intense mid-blue flowers with a white eye.

'Butterball'
Reaches a maximum height of 5 feet, with creamy-white flowers with a yellow eye.

'Camelliard'
Reaches up to 6.5 x 3 feet with light blue flowers borne early to mid summer.

'Connecticutt Yankee'
Dwarf in habit, reaching a maximum height of 32 inches.

'Galahad'
Reaches up to 6 x 3 feet with late season, large, pure white flowers.

* photo taken by Milan Havlis, owner of central Europe's premier plant nursery

'Guinevere'
Reaches up to 6.5 x 3 ( rarely over 5 ) feet with lavender-pink flowers.

'King Arthur'
Reaches up to 6.5 x 3 ( rarely over 5 ) feet with deep violet flowers.

* photo taken by Milan Havlis, owner of central Europe's premier plant nursery

'Strawberry Fair'
Reaches up to 5 feet, with flowers that are rose-pink with a white center.

'Summer Skies'
Reaches up to 8 x 3 ( rarely over 5 ) feet with bright blue flowers.

Delphinium exaltatum ( Tall Larkspur )
A perennial, reaching up to 6 x 4 feet, that is native to limestone woods in the eastern U.S. ( from central Missouri to Springfield, OH to Columbus, Ohio to Butler, PA to Huntingdon, Pennsylvania; south to northern Alabama to North Carolina ). It looks best planted in groups. Tall Larkspur is critically endangred in PA & MD. Endangered throughout the remainder of its range. It likely once occurred in Kentucky but there is no documentation.
The deeply-cut foliage is deep green.
The lavender-blue flowers are borne on tall spikes, up to 12 inches in length, during mid-summer.
Hardy zones 5 to 7 on fertile, well drained soil. It is tolerant of hot humid summers unlike most other Delphiniums. Deadhead old flower spikes and you may get up to 3 flushes of blooms.

* photo taken on Aug 5 2017 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

Delphinium grandiflorum ( Chinese Larkspur )
A branching perennial, reaching a maximum size of 4 x 3 feet, that is native to eastern Asia ( Siberia; south to China & Japan ).
The very finely-divided foliage is bright green.
The long-spurred, violet-blue flowers are borne on racemes up to 12 inches in length, during mid-summer. Deadheading encourages reblooming, however try to leave some blooms for following year.
Hardy zones 2 to 7 in full sun to partial shade. Very fast growing and is often treated as an annual.

* photo of unknown internet source


'Blue Dwarf'
Reaches up to 1 foot with finely serrated leaves and intense mid-blue flower spikes all summer long.

Blue Elf'
Reaches up to 15 inches x 1 foot, forming a compact, bushy mound with large, intense bright blue flowers during summer into autumn.

'Blue Mirror'
Fast growing, sturdy and compact in habit, reaching up to 2 x 1.5 feet in size.
The flowers are stunning mid-blue. They appear early summer and may repeat during the remainder of summer if deadheaded.
The foliage is deep green.

'Butterfly Compacta'
Reaches up to 15 inches with intense mid-blue flowers.

* photo taken on June 4 2012 in Columbia, MD

'Magic Cherry Blossom'
Reaches up to 3.5 feet with intense bright reddish-pink flowers.

'Magic Dark Blue'
Reaches up to 3.5 feet with deep blue flowers.

'Magic Fountian Mix'
Reaches up to 3.5 x 3 feet with flowers that are a mix of colors.
Heat tolerant in partial shade.

* photos taken on June 4 2012 in Columbia, MD

'Magic Heavenly Blue'
Reaches up to 3.5 feet with bright blue flowers.

'Magic Lilac-Rose'
Reaches up to 3.5 feet with lilac-rose flowers.

'Magic White'
Reaches up to 3.5 feet with pure white flowers.

Delphinium laxiflorum
A perennial, reaching up to 5 feet, that is native to the Altay Mountains in Siberia.
The palmately-lobed, rounded leaves are deeply-cut. The foliage is luxuriant bright green.
The bright blue flowers, up to 1 inch across, are borne on clusters up to 20 inches long, during early to mid summer lasting up to 4 weeks.
Hardy zones 4 to 6 ( possibly hardier ) in full sun on sandy, well drained soil.
* excellent photo link found on internet
http://www.plantarium.ru/page/view/item/12819.html

Delphinium nudicaule
A short-lived perennial, reaching a maximum size of 4 x 2 ( rarely over 3 ) feet, that is native to coastal ranges in the western U.S. from Oregon to California.
The coarsely lobed leaves are up to 4 inches across. The downy foliage is dull green.
The orange-red, long-spurred flowers are borne on an open raceme during early summer.
Hardy zones 5 to 8 in full sun to partial shade on dryish soils.

Delphinium semibarbatum
Also called Delphinium zalil. A sturdy perennial, reaching a maximum size of 6.5 x 2 ( rarely over 3 ) feet, that is native to grasslands from Iran to dry parts of northwest China.
The bright yellow, cup-shaped flowers are borne on loose racemes up to 14 inches in length, during early summer.
Hardy zones 5-8 ( 4 on protected sites ), enjoying moisture during spring. It enjoys warm summers but does not enjoy humid, wet summers. Requires full sun on very well drained soil.

Delphinium tatsienense
A short-lived, bushy perennial, reaching a maximum size of 2 feet x 20 inches, that is native to China.
The long spurred flowers are bright blue with an orange beard. The flowers are borne on branched, loose inflorescences during early summer.
Hardy zones 3 to 8

Delphinium tricorne ( Dwarf Larkspur )
A long-lived perennial, reaching up to 1.5 feet in height, that is native to rich woods in the eastern U.S. ( from eastern Nebraska to central Iowa to northern Illinois to northwest Pennsylvania; south to eastern Oklahoma to central Alabama to central North Carolina ).
The deeply palmately 5-lobed leaves are up to 4 x 4 inches in size. The foliage is bright gray-green to mid-green. The foliage dies down during summer.
The purplish-blue flowers, up to 1 inch wide, are borne on a raceme up to 8 inches long. Two plants are required to produce seed.
Hardy zones 4 to 7 in partial shade on just about any well drained soil. It is tolerant of drought while dormant.