I consider myself very lucky and feel a little guilty when I read all the posts about trouble growing Delphiniums. I have had beautiful Delphs for the past three years, and haven't done a darn thing special for them. I'm not the kind of gardener who likes or wants to do anything too fussy to keep the plant going ;o) All the Dephs I have planted behave in a proper perennial manner.

Each year I have started Delph seeds, all Pacific Giant, in small pots in July, to add to those already growing. They are big enough to transplant by mid-September, which apparently gives them plenty of time to have their roots settle in. Last year my seedlings wilted away within a couple of weeks of transplanting, and I thought they were dead. But this spring there they were, as big as life and very beautiful. They grow to about 5-6 feet, I do have to stake them.

I have also bought cell-pack seedlings from the local nursery, and they have all returned in beautiful form. I wish I knew what the secret to their success was in my gardens; I'd certainly share it.

suecirish:

I have read that delphs are happiest in the cooler, more humid summers of costal areas. Perhaps this is part of your success since you are in MA?

The one of mine that is actually doing well just started wiliting in the last week, right before it goes into its second bloom. I am watering like a madwoman to keep it from dying on me. :)

Jennifer

I just started growing delphiniums last years, and wow, I love these plants! This year they were 6' tall, and I had to stake them.

Now I don't remember, are they a perennial, or a biannial? I certainly want to make sure I have them every year. And I didn't do anything special for them, other than plant them in a new bed, in full sun, which I do my best to keep watered.

Jenny P

I do! I do! I read they are heavy feeders so I feed them alot. I got some of the New Millennium Delphiniums and LOVE them. You can not only buy seeds from the link below but they also list growers so you can buy the plants. The website has a TON of info on how to grow them.
I got my larkspur seeds from http://swallowtailgardenseeds.com/index.html
and they did well.

Here is a link that might be useful: New Millennium Delphiniums

I'm getting lots of good tips on growing delphiniums! Keep those tips coming.

If I collect seeds from my delphiniums will the seeds grow a plant that looks just like the parent plant?

Someone mentioned bamboo as supports. Is that the best way to support delphiniums? Would I just tie the plants to the stakes? What about supports that are sold especially for delphiniums? Several of mine just got broken in a storm yesterday. I did bring the broken stalks in and put them in a vase and they are beautiful! I would never have been able to bring myself to cut them if it hadn't been for the storm.

Also, can anyone recommend a good, comprehensive book on growing delphiniums?

The thing that will do them in is heat. If you have very many days during the summer that are over 90, your delphs probably won't last more than a few years. Even though I'm zone 5, we have extremely hot summers. Temps are normally in the 90's, and we usually get at least a week where it's 100 or more. I've been able to grow delphs if they only get sun in the morning or if they're in a spot that gets dappled sun. Even then, they only last 3 years. The tags say "full sun", but the first time I planted delphs, I was a newbie and didn't know any better than to plant them in a spot that got NO direct sun, and only dappled sun for 2 hours a day. They actually thrived and flowered beautifully. So don't be afraid to put them in a fairly shady spot.

All mine reached their 3 year limit last year, so I had no delphs this year. This winter I plan to try wintersowing some delph seeds, and will plant them with my hostas next year. I didn't realize my next door neighbor was paying any attention, but he asked me if I'm going to plant any more delphiniums. I was flattered he even noticed. I answered, "Yes! They'll be back!"

As far as I know, larkspur is an annual.

For stakes, I like the rings. However, you can buy tomato cages a lot cheaper, and they're basically the same thing.

BTW, I highly recommend Dowdeswell's New Milleniums. They're more heat tolerant than other varieties.

Deanna

just me 6
Hi! Did the delphiniums that you winter sowed bloom the year you sowed them or did you have to wait till the next year? Thanks in advance! ~Fay

Delphiniums are heavy feeders, you'll need to make sure they get enough nutrients and water -- I don't fertilize mine specifically, but I do make sure that the soil is very well amended. On the hottest days when I water the roses extra, I also do the delphs so they don't dry out.

As for staking, some of the newer cultivars are shorter and don't need staking, apparently. I haven't tried these ones yet - I grow mostly Pacific Giants and they do need to be staked. Before, I just put in stakes and tied the stalks to the stakes. I didn't really like the look of it as much though, so this year I am using tomato cages, small ones. I like it a lot better, as the plant stays upright, but also looks more "free" in the garden. I will be doing this from now on. I don't have a photo for you though, sorry :)

Delphs are tricky. The first time I tried to grow them I thought they needed acidic soil so they went into the bed with the hydrangea and magnolia. They lasted about 4 hours, literally. After I found out that they actually like alkaline soil, I planted this years delphs on the other side of the bed, along the NW corner of the house that gets bright morning sun and afternoon sun, with miday shade. The soil there is rocky (suburban backfill) organically enriched, and well-drained and they seem happy. They have been in the ground for about 4 weeks, and when I planted, I cut off all the blooms (heat wave forecasted) and now they are in their second flush, so I am optimistic. The soil there is very close to neutral (pH between 7.0 and 7.4).

I live in the SW suburbs of Chicago and our region has extremely alkaline clay soil, that becomes like a brick when it eventually dries out in the summer. This spring, I actually measured the pH and I was surprised to find that the years of mulching and ammending the soil, payed off as the hydrangeas flowered (pink and white, not brave enough to try blue) and the rhodies look happy for the first time in years. The countless bags of leaves, coffee grounds, tea bags, and small dead animals here and there (our neighbor has a serial killer cat) added organic greatly to my perennial beds. In any case, we have the best soil in the world when it is wet and tilled, but most of the time nutrients are just locked up..organic matter and lots of it is the only option. I even irrigate less, since the soil holds more water than ever.

Agree with SueCIrish: in my location, delphiniums are super easy. I do nothing special for them, except for 2 things: 1. I surround each clump with the biggest tomato cage I can find and leave it there permanently 2. each spring, I toss a handful of perennial food to each clump. They have grown for well over 10 years, maybe 15, and I do nothing else than what is indicated above. Which leads me to believe that it is, in fact, the location that makes the difference.

I have had a blue delphinium for more than 15 yrs. I moved it about three times the first five years but since then I moved it only once and that was this spring because I expanded my flower bed and wanted it back further because it was so tall. Mine usually grows 6 or 7 feet and is beautiful every year. It grew and bloomed about 5 ft this year but I think that was due to it being moved this spring. I usually put a tomato cage over mine as soon as it starts to grow in the spring and it keeps it from falling over. Of course as you can tell, they are perennial, as least the one I have is.

I can't find Delphinium "Morning Lights" anywhere for sale, not even a pre-order. Bluestone Perennials had them a couple years ago. Anyone ever grow "Morning Lights" from seed?

I surely do (love delphs)...but to my intense annoyance, I can grow yellow (semibarbatum zalil) and red (nudicaule) delphs with no problem, even some of the slightly gothic greys (requiennii)...but can I grow that heartbreaking blue - nope...as with so many of the ranunculaceae, my arid climate and sandy soil creates challenges from the start. Germination, for a start. Can take months (and I suspect only the freshest seeds will be viable...as is certainly the case with anemones and relatives. I have tried quite a few other western delphs as well as Europeans such as staphisagra from Crete. Even the little grandiflora and tatsiense will only survive a year. (assuming they sprout and grow away while under intense mollusc attack)

Oddly, I have no such issues with monkshoods, growing a range of these, from early June flowerers, through to November...but they never have that luminous quality of d.tricorne or even common larkspur, consolida.

And once again, plant lust is raising its head as planning for next year is already in progress. More (chancy and exotic) seeds ? A reliable bulb spree? Sorting out the hedging? My latest fad = a Mediterranean herb garden?

Sigh. Suspect delphs will not make it to the final lists and this time next year, I will be heaving sighs of regret (again).