I love delphinums and I have very little trouble growing them. Here are a few that I could get good pictures of. The hummingbirds love them, which is good because I love hummingbirds!I just planted some more delphiniums this year to make a nice huge patch of them. My delphiniums have been good about seeding too. Every year I find about 2-3 new plants. Maybe soon I will have enough for cutting.
The Belladonna delphiniums (picture 1) I have had for about 5-6 years. These are the easiest to grow and they are the tallest that I have grown so far, much taller than the Pacific Giants (pictured 2) I planted around them. Some of the other delphiniums don't last as long. They just decide they've had enough and shrivel up and die. I have concluded that they are most likely not staying moist enough, so I am trying extra humus and mulch around these ify ones. My Summer Skies kicked the bucket just days ago. But I loved it so much, I will definitely try again. Just like my favorite- Guinevere. I had this one for three years and it died last year. I planted two more this year in another part of the garden and at least one is really digging the new spot- there are tons of shoots coming up!
Here is a fantastic photo gallery of delphiniums. You can also order seeds from this company, but they are out of New Zealand and I'm not sure what the import laws are about seeds from other countries. If any of you know how to find out, please let me know. Of course I will probably have had it Googled before any of you even reads this.
8 comments:
I have just one on the deck, which I love!
Pretty photos.
I love delphiniums too but I have bad luck growing them in this garden. I have had them in my other gardens no problem. The slugs here just devour them. I think I might try again next year though. They just make such a statement!
I've loved delphs since I first saw them in the alpine meadows of Yosemite. At first, I found the garden cultivars grotesque. (The alpine beauties are so petite!) The garden giants have grown on me, though.
I've had bad luck with delphs so far. My seeds did not germinate. (I suspect the chilling period was not long enough.) The live plants I ordered arrived dead and dying. (I'll wait until next spring to see if they resurrect before demanding my cash back. Do you think that's wise?) I finally picked up a couple at Home Depot, but, of course, the label read only Delphinium, so I have no idea what cultivar they are or how big they'll get. They are presently quite small.
I am going to try direct sowing in the late fall/early winter this year. I'd like a whole drift of delphs!
Sierrabella- You're growing it in a pot? How intriguing.
Sandy- Slugs? Huh, I guess I don't get many slugs in my garden. I did once and set out snail bait and haven't had trouble since. Beer works really well too. I tried both. I like the bait better, it's neater and works better. The beer gets rotting slug carcasses in it. The bait is more of a concern around pets and children though.
Kasmira- I would get my money right away. They should be sending you healthy plants, not ones that you have to wonder about. Delphiniums, in my experience do not go dormant, they just die.
I also have bought many a "Delphinium" delphinium. They have all ended up being the taller spike type like the ones I have featured in this post. Expect them to be at least 3' tall (my tallest is well over 5').
Sylvana, I prefer beer in my slug traps because I can just throw it and the carcasses directly into the compost. That way they benefit the garden instead of destroying it. Heh, heh.
I love delphiniums but can't grow them in my garden for some reason. I have had better luck with larkspur which is very similar but an annual.
I have never tried to grow these but they sure look wonderful.
I never thought about putting slugs in the compost. I have so many slugs I would have to have about 15 traps or more. Such a waste of beer! I do slug patrol most evenings(I really need to get a life)I put them in a plastic bag with a leaf or two of something they like and throw them in the garbage can. I figure they can have a last tasty snack.
OldRoses- that is a very zen of you. As for growing them, I have had the best luck with them in loose, rich soil. They do not like clay or compacted soils at all. They like a lot of compost and mulch. And they really like to be in the sun most of the day.
Crazygramma- I have had a lot of people tell me that they have trouble growing them, but I really find them easy to grow. A little difficult to stake, but REALLY easy to grow.
Sandy- buy cheap beer you despise. then you don't have to feel guilty about giving it to the slugs. I like your slug funeral too. It's so sweet with just a hint of evil!
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