Delphinium delavayi seed

LATIN NAME: DELPHINIUM DELAVAYI

COMMON NAME: Delavay’s Larkspur

The Delavay larkspur beacons the tall, branching spires of the deep-blue flowers through the midsummer, the finely cut leaves holding the fresh green, and the whole plant carrying the stately, upright look of the high-mountain delphiniums. The flowers open in the long, dense racemes, each bloom with the dark, bee-like centre, and the plant rises well above the border. The stems stand firm, and the foliage keeps its clean, lobed outline. It likes the sun, the shelter from the wind, and the deep, rich, moist, well-drained soil.

Scientific Research & Plant Biotechnology

The high-mountain delphiniums have a long, colourful history in the garden breeding, and the Delavay larkspur appears in the studies of the alpine flora and the ornamental perennials. The research covers the seed biology, the way the spires develop and the breeding of the garden forms, while the horticulturists value the vivid blue that few perennials match. The botanists track the species across the mountain meadows, and the collectors of the true-blue flowers keep it in their catalogues.

Ecological & Economic Value & Wide Applications

In the sunny border, the Delavay larkspur lifts the planting to the sky. The deep-blue spires draw the bees and the butterflies through the midsummer, the stately stems give the vertical accent, and the plant rewards the gardener with the generous second flush after the first heads are cut. It flourishes in the deep, rich, moist soil and stands firm against the wind in the sheltered spot. Bold, blue and rewarding.

The Delavay larkspur seeds germinate in a fine, gritty mix kept cool and moist. The seedlings show themselves within a couple of weeks, and they grow on steadily through the first season. Prick them out into the deep, rich, moist ground once they are big enough, and give them the sun and the shelter from the wind. A stake helps the tall stems in the exposed border, and the blue spires come within the first summer.

To grow the Delavay larkspur from seed, sow the small, black seeds sparingly over the surface of the cell tray of fine, gritty mix, keep the tray in the bright, cool spot and mist gently. The seedlings push through within a couple of weeks, and they grow on steadily. Plant the young spires into the sunny, sheltered border, and the blue racemes will beacon through the summer.