How to Grow Delphinium Flowers
About Growing Delphinium Flowers in Your Home Garden
Growing Delphinium plants in your backyard will reward you with absolutely gorgeous blooms year after year. There are both annual and perennial members of this tall and showy flower family. These spiked flowers originated in Europe and are found naturally in forest clearings. They’re an old-fashioned favorite. Gorgeous flower spikes come in jewel-like shades of blue, lavender, and diamond-bright white, some with darker center spots. Delphinium flowers are great for cut flowers. They look great in vases and indoor floral arrangements.
With many varieties in this family, Delphinium plants range in size from about one foot to several feet.
Caution: All parts of Delphinium are poisonous and could be fatal. If you have children or pets, you might want to steer clear of this flower.
Delphinium Plant Specifications
Flower colors: Colors include Blue, pink, purple, and white.
Flowers Blooms: Spring to early Summer.
Plant Height: Plants grow up to 6 feet, depending upon variety.
Light Requirements: Full sunlight to partial shade.
Ideal Soil pH: 6.5 – 7.0.
Hardiness Zone: 3 – 9.
Toxicity: Yes. It is toxic to humans, pets, and farm animals.
Deer Resistant? Yes. Deer steer clear of this plant. Rabbits avoid it, too.
Number of Species: This plant has over 300 species.
Native To: Northern Hemisphere.
Plant Type: Annuals and Perennials.
Botanical Name: Ranunculaceae
Are Delphinium Plants Edible?
ABOSLUTELY NOT!! This plant is poisonous. As a matter of fact, all parts of Delphinium plants are highly toxic. They are toxic, even if consumed in small quantities,
Keep this plant away from children, pets, and farm animals.
While this is a beautiful plant if you have small children, we highly recommend you not grow this poisonous flower.
Medicinal Applications for Delphinium Plants
Despite being a poisonous plant, Delphinium has medicinal applications. Among them are:
- Antifungal and antibacterial properties.
- Treats intestinal worms.
- Eases gastrointestinal and respiratory problems.
Light Requirements
Select a planting location where your Delphinium plants will grow in full sun. Give them 6 hours of more or bright, direct sunlight.
This cool-weather plant does not perform well in hot, dry areas. Stress from the heat can shorten the life of the flower blooms and the blooming period. So, in hotter areas of the country, provide afternoon shade from the intense rays of the hot, dry sun.
Delphinium Plant Propagation
Delphinium is started from seed. Sow Delphinium seeds directly into your flower garden after all danger of frost. Also, the seeds can be broadcast-spread around fields as a wildflower.
Sow Delphinium seeds early in the season and cover lightly with 1/8″ of garden soil. Space them 4 inches apart and thin seedlings to 1 1/2 feet apart.
Delphiniums are Rhizomes. You can separate the rhizomes of established plants and replant them in new areas.
Final Plant Spacing: Plant Dame’s Rocket 18″ apart. The plants tolerate a little crowding. They look their best growing in showy groups.
Days to Germination: 14 – 21 days.
How to Grow Delphinium Flower Plants
The plants grow best in cool weather. Delphinium plants like full sun to partial shade. They are very easy to grow and grow rapidly.
The plants prefer rich, loose soil. However, they do well in average soil. Mix in an ample amount of compost to the planting site. The soil needs to be kept moist to fuel their quick growth.
Water them during dry periods, once or twice per week.
Add a general-purpose fertilizer once a month until after they have bloomed.
Apply a thick layer of mulch around the plants. It keeps the weeds down and helps to retain soil moisture. Also, the mulch feeds the plant as it breaks down.
Cut blooms just before they peak. Place in a vase and arrange with other flowers, or alone by themselves.
Important: As was previously stated, the plant is poisonous. Keep children and pets away from this plant.
Once your Delphinium is established, they will grow well until the first frost. Annual varieties of Delphinium will succumb to a hard frost or freeze. Perennial varieties will come back the following year.
Pruning Delphinium Plants
As with any other plant, remove any dead or sickly leaves and branches.
Delphinium plants benefit by a good pruning. When a flower has died, immediately remove it. Use pruning shears to cut the flower stem back to the main stem. This promotes new side shots and thus more blooms.
After the initial blooms have died, cut the entire plant back to just a few inches from the ground. This promotes a second profusion of blooms later in the season. If you have a long growing and with a little luck, cutting the plant back a second time may result in a third set of blooms.
Insects and Plant Disease
Fungal disease is common, most notably Sclerotium rot which yellows leaves and wilts the plant. Delphinium is also affected by mildew. Treat affected plants immediately with a general-purpose fungicide. Also, remove seriously diseased plants to keep the disease from spreading.
Insect problems are less frequent. Organic or chemical insect repellents are effective against most pests.
Also see: Plant Problems – Identify the causes and find the cures.
Overwintering Delphinium Plants
Perennial varieties of these cool-weather plants usually overwinter well. For perennial Delphinium varieties, cut them down to the ground after the plants have died off for the season. Perennial varieties do not require mulching or other winter protection in most areas.
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