This year seems to be a particularly good one for Delphiniums. While I was on the Coeur d'Alene Garden Tour last Sunday, I saw all sorts of glorious ones. As you can see, they come in beautiful colors - purple, lavender, pale blue, white and pink. Many of the blossoms of different cultivars have interesting centers and some of the petals are slightly iridescent.
Delphiniums are quite easy to grow. They prefer full sun and well-drained soil. They can be started from seed or you can find potted plants at most nurseries or from online sources.
They bloom in early to mid-summer and as soon as each flower stalk has finished blooming, be sure to remove the stalk. Oftentimes, this will encourage the plant to bloom again in a few weeks. It's a good idea to provide the flower stalks with stakes for support, especially in windy areas.
For best results, feed the plants during the growing season. You can use a balanced fertilizer (such as 10-10-10), compost or rotted manure.
