The Hybrid or Garden Delphinium, often called the Queen of the Border, is one of the most spectacular of herbaceous perennials to grow in a temperate garden. Most are derived originally from the species Delphinium elatum. The original species delphiniums, themselves splendid flowering annuals and perennials, hybridise easily, so there is a bewildering range of varieties to choose from. The list below covers a selection of the more popular varieties.
Growing Your Own Hybrid Delphinium Plants
It’s easy enough to grow delphiniums from seed, but as plants from the seed of hybrid varieties do not always come true to colour it may best to buy your delphiniums as pot grown plants in flower if you wish to be sure of getting a particular shade.
If you do grow your own delphiniums from seed, raise plants to the flowering stage before choosing which to retain to ensure you get the precise shade you want. Also note that the strongest looking seedlings may not necessarily give the shade you are trying to achieve.
Some seed merchants, like Thompson and Morgan, offer certain seeds which are guaranteed true to colour. For pot grown plants it’s best to go to a specialist nursery like Larkspur Nursery.
More information about growing hybrid delphiniums.
Popular Hybrid Delphinium Varieties
Some of the most popular and widely available hybrid delphinium varieties include:
- Delphinium Astolat Group. Height 5ft. Pink and lilac shades with central black eyes or “bees”.
- Delphinium Belladonna Group. Height 4ft. Cliveden Beauty has sky blue flowers.
- Delphinium Black Knight Group. Height 5 ft. Dark bluish purple flowers with black eyes.
- Delphinium Blue Bird Group. Height 5 ft. Brilliant blue flowers with white eyes.
- Delphinium Blue Fountains Group. Height 2 ft 6in. A range of different shades of blue from mid blue to near white, generally with white eyes.
- Delphinium Cameliard Group. Height 5 ft. Varying shades of pink and lavender.
- Delphinium Galahad Group. Height 5 ft. Pure white flowers.
- Delphinium Guinevere Group. Height 5 ft. Lavender pink flowers with white eyes.
- Delphinium King Arthur Group. Height 5 ft. Violet flowers with white eyes.
- Delphinium Summer Skies Group. Height 5 ft. Pale blue flowers with white eyes.
Among the more striking of the less widely available and more unusual hybrid varieties are:
- Delphinium Loch Leven. Height 5 ft with 3 ft long blue spikes of white eyed blue flowers.
- Delphinium Mighty Atom. One of the tallest, reaching 6 -7 ft high with lavender blue flowers and brown eyes.
- Delphinium Sungleam. Another very tall (6-7 ft) variety with yellow tinged white flowers and yellow eyes.
Planted in groups of three or more, any of these delphinium varieties will form a dramatic backdrop to any mixed or herbaceous border. But don't neglect the species delphiniums. They too richly deserve their place in the garden.
Tony Allen - In 2004 I began my "fourth career" as a freelance writer. In my first career, after training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, I ...
