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Chinese Delphinium

Category:

A wonderful compact, bushy variety that features bright blue flowers that rise above grey green, ferny foliage; a lovely heat tolerant addition to borders, beds and containers; beautiful cut flower; remove spent flowers to encourage new growth

Characteristics

Average Landscape Height:
18 inches (24 inches with the flowers)
Average Landscape Width:
18 inches
Growth Rate:
medium
Genus:
Delphinium
Species:
grandiflorum
Flower Color:
blue
Flower Period:
from late spring to late summer
Summer Foliage Color:
gray green
Minimum Light:
full sun
Maximum Light:
full sun
Minimum Moisture:
average
Maximum Moisture:
moist
Plant Form:
mounded
Canopy:
low
Pruning:
cut back in fall
Pollution Tolerance:
medium
Other Species Names:
Dwarf Larkspur
Branching:
herbaceous
Spacing:
12 inches
Flower Eye Color:
white
Flower Form:
trumpet

Ornamental Features

Chinese Delphinium has masses of beautiful panicles of blue trumpet-shaped flowers with white throats and blue spurs at the ends of the stems from late spring to late summer, which are most effective when planted in groupings. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its deeply cut ferny compound leaves remain grayish green in color throughout the season.

Landscape Attributes

Chinese Delphinium is an herbaceous perennial with a mounded form. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other garden plants with less refined foliage.

Planting & Growing

Chinese Delphinium will grow to be about 18 inches tall at maturity extending to 24 inches tall with the flowers, with a spread of 18 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 12 inches apart. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 3 years. As an herbaceous perennial, this plant will usually die back to the crown each winter, and will regrow from the base each spring. Be careful not to disturb the crown in late winter when it may not be readily seen!

This plant should only be grown in full sunlight. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This species is not originally from North America. It can be propagated by division.

Chinese Delphinium is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. It can be used either as 'filler' or as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination, depending on the height and form of the other plants used in the container planting. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.

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