Delphinium

What does Delphinium look like?

Delphiniums are upright plants, some reaching up to 2 meters, with deeply divided leaves and tall flower spikes. The flowers have five sepals that form a hollow shape with a spur at the back, giving them their name. Colours range from deep blue and purple to pink, red, yellow, and white. The blooms are arranged in clusters at the top of the stem and are pollinated by butterflies and bumble bees. All parts of the plant are poisonous.

Where does Delphinium come from?

Delphinium species are found across the northern parts of the globe and in high-altitude areas of tropical Africa. The name comes from the Greek word for dolphin, inspired by the shape of the flower. Carl Linnaeus first described the genus. Over time, genetic research has led to changes in how related plants are grouped, with some former genera now included under Delphinium.

When and how Delphinium blooms

Delphiniums bloom from late spring through summer. They grow in a range of habitats, from prairies and open grasslands to forests and mountain slopes. Most garden varieties are hybrids, often derived from D. elatum, and are grown for their showy flower spikes. They are usually started from seed or young plants and need cool to moderate climates.

How Delphinium is used

These plants are popular in gardens for their height and colourful flowers, often placed at the back of borders. They are also grown for cut flowers and are featured in flower shows. Despite their beauty, all parts are toxic to people and animals. Some species have been used to make blue ink, and delphiniums attract pollinators like butterflies.

Kinds of Delphinium

There are many cultivated types, including the 'Pacific Giant' hybrids from the United States, which grow tall and come in single colours. New Zealand's Millennium hybrids are bred for warmer climates. Flower colours have been expanded through hybridisation, especially using D. cardinale. Some species once included in Delphinium are now placed in other genera.

What Delphinium means

Delphiniums are valued for their striking appearance in gardens and at flower shows, such as the Chelsea Flower Show. They are also important in plant collections, with a national collection held in the UK. The plant's toxicity is well known, especially as a danger to livestock in North America. The name larkspur is shared with some related plants.

Where Delphinium is used and seen

History of flower arrangementHow arranging flowers became an art across cultures and centuriesFloral designThe art of arranging flowers and plant materials into decorative displaysFloristryThe craft and trade of arranging and selling flowers

Traditions that use it

Where to see Delphinium

🇬🇧 London · All yearNew Covent Garden Flower Market before sunriseLondon's wholesale flower market at Nine Elms, where the city's florists buy in the dark hours and the public may walk in. 🇬🇧 Cranbrook · Apr to SepThe garden rooms of SissinghurstA Kent garden of hedged rooms made by Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson, known above all for its White Garden. 🇬🇧 Chipping Campden · May to JulVillage open garden days in the CotswoldsSummer days when a whole Cotswold village opens its private gardens for charity, with tea and cake in the hall. 🇺🇸 Crested Butte · Jun to AugWildflower season in Crested ButteA former mining town high in the Colorado Rockies, surrounded in July by meadows of columbine, lupine and sunflowers.

Questions people ask about Delphinium

Good reading and sources

• Encyclopaedia BritannicaArticle
• Delphinium 'Centurion Sky Blue' (Centurion Series)Royal Horticultural Society, Article
• Plants of the World OnlineRoyal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Plant database
• Where it has been recordedGBIF, Plant database
• Sightings and photos by naturalistsiNaturalist, Plant database

• Delphinium on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
• Wikidata recordOpen data