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Delphinium

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Read about Delphinium in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture 

Delphinium (Greek, a dolphin, from the resemblance of the flower). Ranunculaceae. Larkspur. A group of beautiful hardy plants grown in borders for their handsome spikes of flowers and stately stems of foliage. They are of great value for cut-flower purposes as the blooms keep well.

Annual or perennial, erect, branching herbs: lvs. palmately lobed or divided: fls. large, irregular, in a showy raceme or panicle; sepals 5, petal-like, the posterior one prolonged into a spur; petals 2 or 4, small, the posterior ones spurred, the lateral ones small, if present; the few carpels always sessile, forming many- seeded follicles. Full double forms are very common in a number of the species (compare Figs. 1232, 1233). A. Gray, An attempt to distinguish between the American Delphiniums, Bot. Gaz. 12:49-54, 1887. E. Huth, Monographic der Gattung Delphinium, in Eng. Bot. Jahrb. 20:322-499, 1895. There are about 60 species, native of the north temperate zone, four of which are of much greater popularity than the others: the annual, D. Ajacis, and the perennials, D. grandiflorum, D. hybridum and D. formosum. The last three have been especially prolific in named garden varieties.

Some of the garden varieties of delphiniums are as follows: King of Delphiniums, semi-double, and Duke of Connaught, distinguished by a deep intense blue and conspicuous white center of the large singular flowers; Mme. Violet Geslin and Julia, cornflower-blue varieties with white eye; Amos Perry, a combination of rich rosy mauve, flushed with sky-blue; Lizzie and Rev. J. J. Stubbs, spikes of vivid azure around deep brown centers. Combinations of sky-blue, pink and lavender are striking characteristics of Diademe, Excelsior. Grille, Hallgarten, Libelle, Minerva, Niederwald and Seidenspinner, distinguished from each other by white, brown or black centers. The petals of Carmen are of deep gentian-blue and pink, surrounding a brown center; those of Lamartine and Musea, lavender-blue; and Felicite, sky-blue.—Of the perpetual-flowering Belladonna class, the trade offers the following named hybrids: Capri, clear sky-blue; Moerheimeii, pure white; Nassau, Mr. Brunton and Persimmon variations in sky-blue and azure; while the light graceful spikes of Semiplenum and Grandiflora show a clear intense cornflower-blue.—Perfect double-flowering delphiniums, though very handsome, are shy seeders and a small percentage come true to color and variety. They do not seem to share in the great popularity of the singles. Of the latter the old species D. chinense, D. Davidii, and the rather hard to handle but otherwise beautiful yellow D. Zalil, are well worth cultivating. (R. Rothe.)

Rocket and Candelabrum are names used to designate the forms of inflorescence in the two annual species. The "Rocket" or spike-like form is more commonly found in the Ajacis type, and the "Candelabrum," with a number of short spike-like heads of different heights, is found more often hi Consolida.

Delphiniums thrive in any good garden soil, but are improved by a deep, rich sandy loam, exposed to the sun. Deep preparation of the soil is very important. The annuals are propagated from seed, which are very slow in germinating. In the warmer latitudes they may be sown in early fall and will then produce flowers early the next season; or they may be started indoors.

The perennials, may be propagated: (1) By root-division in the fall or spring. The large strong- growing species may be divided into a number of plants after growing in the flower-bed for several years. (2) By cuttings, about which J. B. Keller says: "Take a few cuttings from each plant in early spring, when growth is about 3 or 4 inches long, or else use the second growth, which has come after the flower-stems have been removed. Cuttings root readily in a shaded frame, no bottom heat being required, but an occasional sprinkling during dry and hot weather is necessary. When rooted they are treated like seedlings." (3) By seeds, started in the greenhouse or hotbed in March or even earlier. The young seedlings should be given plenty of room by transplanting as they grow, and may be set in the open garden by June. If started thus early they flower the first autumn. The seed may be planted in late spring or summer, care being taken to water well during dry weather, and flowers will come the next summer. To get the best results, the perennials should be transplanted every 2 or 3 years. Two good crops of blossoms may be secured in one season by cutting away the flower-stems of the first crop as soon as the flowers have faded; of course no seeds will be produced in this way.

In most climates where they are grown the roots of the perennials are left unprotected, in the open garden, during the winter. This plan can be improved By giving the bed or border a good dressing of barnyard manure about the time the ground begins to freeze in the fall. This will greatly enrich the soil and also protect the underground buds during winter. A much better show of flowers will be the result. Because of their ability to use much fertility, it is well to spade in the manure instead of removing it in the spring. A top-dressing of manure near the plants in midsummer is used to aid in forcing the "fall" or second crop of flowers. This dressing conserves the soil- moisture, prevents weeds, and adds plant-food. Such applications of manure will make the plants more vigorous throughout. They will flower more profusely and, if desired, the roots can be divided much more freely.

D. caerulescens. Freyn. A fine Asiatic species, with single and double forms. P.M. 16:258.—D. candidum, Hemsl. A dwarf perennial: fls. pure white. Uganda. B.M. 8170.—D. cardiopetalum, DC., is a pretty annual, branching very low, the outer branches very short, giving a pyramidal form when covered with blue fls. R. H. 1893, p. 228.—D. caucasicum, C. A. Mey. (D. speciosum var. caucasicum, Huth.). Similar to D. cashmerianum.—D. Davidii, Franch. Hairy: lvs. 3-parted almost to the base: fls. light blue. China.—D. divaricatum, Ledeb. Allied to D. Consolida, but taller, more branched, with smaller more abundant fls. Caucasus and Caspian region. R.H. 1912, p. 513.—D. macrocentron, Oliv. Perennial, hairy in nearly all parts: fls. blue and green or yellow and green. E. Trop. Afr. B. M. 8151.—D. Moerheimei. Hort. A garden hybrid.—D. Pardonii, Craib. Fls. blue in somewhat lax raceme. China.— D. Parryi, Gray, is also listed in the trade, and is closely allied to D. Consolida.—D. Wheelerii is listed in the trade and is doubtless a variety of D. speciosum, Bieb., from E. Asia. Many other species may be expected in the lists of collectors and fanciers. K. C. Davis.


The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.



Delphinium sp.


Plant Characteristics
Origin: ✈ ?
Cultivation
Exposure: ☼ ?"?" is not in the list (sun, part-sun, shade, unknown) of allowed values for the "Exposure" property.
Water: ◍ ?"?" is not in the list (wet, moist, moderate, dry, less when dormant) of allowed values for the "Water" property.
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Ranunculaceae >

Delphinium >


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