Electric blue

Plant delphiniums now for spectacular spires of summer flowers in every shade of blue, says Hazel Sillver, as she explains which varieties to choose and how to care for them

-  Hazel Sillver

IF the rose is the queen of the English cottage garden, the delphinium is the king. In June and July, its tall flower towers dazzle at the back of the border in every shade of blue, from pale Wedgwood to deep-sea cobalt. Mature plants can reach 6ft (1.8m) high, producing over 100 blooms on each of its spikes, which point to the sky like the spires of tiny blue cathedrals.

These border stars are the perennial Elatum delphiniums, which can be planted now in spring. They are best bought from specialist suppliers to ensure quality, and because many perennial delphiniums available in garden centres are the Pacific Hybrids that have declined in quality since their introduction almost a century ago.

Perennials and annuals

For anyone wanting to grow delphiniums for cut flowers, the perennial Belladonna delphiniums (such as ‘Atlantis’ and ‘Völkerfrieden’) – which have widely spaced flowers and don’t grow as tall as the Elatums – last well in a vase. The annuals (such as D. grandiflorum) and closely related larkspurs (Consolida), which have widely spaced blooms and less height, can also be sown now.

Blue varieties are spectacular