Delightful delphiniums

We may not all be able to grow show quality delphiniums, but even in ordinary gardens these statuesque plants still turn heads, says John Hoyland

- John Hoyland

VISITORS to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show know all the plants there are grown to the highest of standards, but there is one family that consistently outshines all the others: delphiniums. Impossibly tall and perfectly proportioned, their spires of delicate flowers often elicit gasps of astonishment and many gardeners make an annual pilgrimage to marvel at the growers’ skills and be dazzled by the opulence of the flowers. Seasoned gardeners take most plants in their stride, but delphiniums can intimidate even the most experienced of us.

Achieving the same calibre of display in the rough and tumble of the British garden is beyond the abilities of most gardeners, although fantastic displays of delphiniums can still be seen, notably at Temple Newsam in West Yorkshire and at Regent’s Park in London, where a colour-themed sweep of the flowers shines out against a protective yew hedge. Visit between June and early August when delphiniums are at the peak of their performance.

Anyone who has grown them knows that, although the perfection shown at flower shows and in professional gardens is almost impossible to achieve, delphiniums will, nevertheless, always be impressive. The height of the blooms, the intensity of colour (particularly the blue forms) and the elegance of the flowers make a group of even common-or-garden delphiniums irresistible. These are plants that don’t need to be the mollycoddled supermodels of the show bench to make an impression; even a poorly grown delphinium will still turn heads.