This plant, like several more in this category, is almost too well known to need detailed description. It might be thought, by those who have seen the magnificent displays of enormous spikes at the Chelsea Flower Show, that it did not qualify to be included, because of the apparent difficulty of growing and the need for constant staking and attention. But this would be a mistake. The best way of finding the Delphiniums suitable for your own garden is to buy – or grow – some mixed seedlings.
It will then be found that some of these will be much more suitable than others – both as to size of spike, colour of flower and, perhaps even more important, in their performance in the soil and climate of a particular garden. Having found these, and selected the best – both for colour and constitution, keep them, and care for them. They can then be divided in the spring, a simple operation of splitting up the roots to take growing shoots with some root attached – in order to increase the stock of those that are preferred, and which also prefer the conditions you have to offer.
But the Delphinium has been cut down to size in recent years. The ‘Belladonnas’ only grow to about 3 or 4ft, and they do not require staking or, at least, only the minimum support of a few peasticks. And there are many excellent varieties in this particular strain. ‘Capri’ is sky blue at between 3 and 4ft, ‘Lamartine’ is violet blue at 4ft, ‘Moer-heimii’ is a pure white rising to between 3 or 4ft, ‘Pink Sensation’ is a light rose pink at about the same height – but, probably the best of all, is ‘Wendy’, a deep blue with a white eye at 3^ft.
If you do want height, and are prepared to give your Delphiniums the benefit of a stake, then ‘Charles F. Langdon’, a medium blue with a black eye, ‘Fred Yule’, purple and blue with a black eye, and ‘Swan Lake’, white with a black eye,
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grow up to 6ft in good conditions.
Technically, the Larkspur is a Delphinium – the hardy annual form of that plant. But, of course, to many people it will still be better known as the Larkspur. Yet – more than that – Larkspur means blue, and you would be surprised how difficult it is to buy a packet of seeds of a true blue Larkspur! You can obtain all sorts of colours from pink, almost red, to white but plain blue Larkspur just doesn’t seem to be fashionable any more. It may be prejudice on my part, but I feel that Larkspur should be blue – like the Cornflower. Even so, it does not matter all that much about the colour – because it is a very decorative flower. It has a considerable value, so far as this category is concerned, because Larkspur is one of the few plants – one might almost say the only plant – that will grow happily in the roots of a privet hedge. Normally, a privet hedge is greedy. It takes so much out of the soil that it is almost impossible to grow anything within 4ft of it – not the Larkspur.
Picture an ideal cottage garden or a perfect herbaceous border; there, towering above it all, are the majestic blooms of the delphinium.
Delphiniums manage, somehow, to combine a regal charm with a cosy familiarity. They seem to be equally at ease in a humble cottage garden or in the formal borders of a stately home.
There are several good reasons why generations of gardeners have included delphiniums in their planting schemes. Hardy plants come in a whole host of reds, purples, pinks and yellows, but true blues are more difficult to find. Delphiniums offer a wide range of truly glorious blues, from the very pale to very dark, rich hues.
The stately shape of delphiniums adds to their appeal. They bring much needed height to the back of borders and to the centre of island beds, while their impressive flower spikes contrast well with the gentler outlines of other border plants.
Delphiniums are hardy plants, well able to survive almost any weather except drought and strong winds.
Howling gales will play havoc with the very tall forms, so it pays to provide support early in the growing season by placing three 1.2m/4ft bamboo stakes in a triangle around each plant. Tie the stems in as necessary as the plants grow.
Alternatively, commercial supports are available.
Dwarf delphiniums
Dwarf varieties have been developed primarily to combat the hazards of sites exposed to the winds. You lose very little in the way of flower spikes by choosing dwarf varieties, but the foliage is much more compact. In a very windy area it will still be necessary to provide some support.
Most delphiniums are perennial and are capable of giving pleasure for many years, though there are hardy annual species, the larkspurs, which are derived from Delphinium ajacis and D. consolida.
Blues plus
A wide range of colours is available, apart from the famous blues. There are daz-zling whites, dusky pinks, subtle creams and rich purples as well. Recent developments include clear pinks, a salmon/ orange and brilliant reds from the University Hybrid range of plants. With this selection to choose from it is possible to work delphiniums into any garden colour scheme.
