Delphinium (Belladonna group) 'CLIVEDEN BEAUTY'

Larkspur is a favourite perennial where varieties with blue flowers are most popular. Though, in modern gardens and better garden centres you can find new varieties with pink shades or even purple-red shades as well as white. The name delphinium was used to describe the shape of the flower bud which looks like a dolphin (rather fat one).

Cliveden Beauty is a larkspur from Belladonna Group. It makes about 1m tall stems with spikes of medium large, sky blue flowers with a white bee in the centre (that is the tiny hairy bit in the middle which gives the flower its second colour). The individual flowers are arranged loosely around the stems. Once the flowering has finished you can cut back the entire plant for the second flush in September and October. Deciduous, basal leaves are mid green, up to 20 cm across, palmate, 3- or 5-lobed.

Grow larkspur in any well-drained, humus-rich garden soil in full sun. It will benefit from mulching as it likes constant moisture. The plant contains toxin which may cause severe discomfort if ingested, or, to some, it may irritate skin. The plant is short-lived unless you dig out the clumps in the spring, divide them and plant back only the young and healthy ones. Use a high phosphorus fertilizer every year for profuse flowering. Fully hardy to min. -34°C (USDA zone 4), possibly more.

Last update 12-03-2014