Delphinium (Pacific Hybrids) 'BLUE BIRD'

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 a fat one).

Blue Bird is a showy larkspur variety whose flowers look like summer skies. They are double, rich sky blue and the centre is decorated with a small white "bee". It belongs to Pacific Hybrids group and starts blooming already in early June and continues until early August. The older and stronger the plant gets, the more flowers are borne along the stems and the taller the stem grows. Deciduous, basal leaves are palmate, deeply lobed, mid green, up to 20 cm across.

Once the flowering has finished you can cut back the entire plant in order to encourage new growths of fresh and healthy leaves as well as the second flush of flowers in late August and September, possibly October. It is incredible to see rich colours of late flowering perennials in autumn gardens when most other plants are slowly fading away.

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 once in 3-4 years 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 01-08-2017