Novice flower growers know little about delphinium or, as it is also called, spur, larkspur. But experienced gardeners are well acquainted with this crop and actively grow it. This plant is propagated by seed method. The article will tell you how to grow delphinium from seeds.

Spur grass includes about 450 varieties of perennial and annual crops, which are represented by 40 species. There is also a related genus called Sokyrki. The birthplace of this amazing flower recognized by China. Delphinium is widespread in many countries of Southeast Asia. Belongs to the Buttercup family.

Delphinium is a cultivated herbaceous plant with beautiful flowering. Below is a detailed description:

Classification of delphinium culture

Spur grass can be annual or perennial. The first group is represented by fast-growing, herbaceous plants. The height of the stem usually varies from 40 centimeters to 2 meters. The inflorescence is simple, consists of 5 colored sepals. Density and size vary.
The buds do not bloom at the same time: they start from the bottom. The foliage is very decorative. It is dissected and has slight pubescence. Gardeners grow annual delphinium from seeds quite often. After all, the culture looks beautiful until the fall.

As for perennial crops, they delight with their beauty at the beginning of summer for 20-30 days. And this must be taken into account when choosing the time to plant perennial delphinium in the garden. Their external characteristics are somewhat different from annual specimens. For example, the flowers are larger, and the plant height can reach 3 meters.

Regardless of belonging to the group, delphinium is grown at home by cuttings, dividing bushes, or by seed. The culture prefers a sunny place and is considered relatively drought-resistant and frost-resistant. It should be noted that when choosing a perennial larkspur: cultivation may be accompanied by a number of difficulties. After all, this type of culture is recognized as more capricious.

Annual larkspur is represented by the following types:

The most common groups of garden spurs are presented below. You can read about growing eustoma from seeds.

Delphinium belladonna

Developed by hybridizing large-flowered and tall plant. Delphinium Belladonna is characterized by stems about 2 meters high, branched and short inflorescences, which consist of 5-20 semi-double or simple cup-shaped drooping flowers. The color is usually blue or blue with white eyes. Leaves are narrowly dissected, separate. Flowering is quite long due to the constantly appearing new stems. These include perennial varieties Semiplena, Piccolo, Pink Sensation, Moorheimii, Lord Butler, Bellamosum, Capri, Meerheimii, Casablanca, Steichen.

Pacific or Pacific hybrids

They were bred through selection, self-pollination, and hybridization. At seed propagation Pacific delphinium hybrids retain the color of the flowers. The buds are large and come in purple, white, pink-blue, and lavender shades. The eyes are red, white, black or brown. The disadvantage of these plants is their fragility and susceptibility to many diseases. Large-flowered Pacific spur is grown in a biennial or annual culture. Gardeners obtain delphinium Pacific from the seeds of the following varieties: Summer Skies, King Arthu, Black Night, Blue Jay, Lancelot, Juinivere.

Gardeners also often grow delphinium Galahad from seeds, the flowers of which are characterized by a snow-white color. This culture looks very impressive and elegant. The buds are formed huge, collected in ears. This variety would be ideal as a gift bouquet.

All these varieties are widespread among professional flower growers. But beginners should pay attention to delphinium Astolat, which requires a minimum of attention and does not cause difficulties in care. The color is cold pink with a pearlescent sheen, the flowers are large, multi-petaled. The variety looks great in gardens pastel shades, modest corners.

Marfinsky delphinium hybrids

Very decorative and frost-resistant. The height reaches 180 centimeters. Moreover, the inflorescence occupies 100 centimeters. The bud is semi-double, brightly colored. When propagating from seeds, it is quite difficult to maintain parental properties. The most famous varieties are Morpheus, Pink Sunset, Ruza, Spring Snow, Blue Lace.

New Zealand delphiniums

This is a new group of hybrids. The New Zealand delphinium reaches 1.5-2.2 meters in height. The flowers are arranged very tightly in the inflorescence, leaving no gaps. The plant is powerful, with semi-double or double large buds. Some varieties are distinguished by corrugated petals. The diameter is approximately 8 centimeters, the color is varied. All varieties are immune to disease, frost-resistant and durable. The following varieties are popular among gardeners: Sunny Skies, Green Twist, Pagan Purples, Dusky Maidens, Blue Lace. It is also worth mentioning the New Zealand Giant delphinium, which is the brightest.

Scottish hybrid forms

These are super-double flowers of different colors. Each bud consists of approximately 58 petals. Plant height is 1-1.5 meters. The varieties are distinguished by their ease of maintenance, durability, and the ability to retain the properties of their parents during seed propagation.

Which variety to choose for growing seeds?

So that growing delphinium seedlings from seeds in the future will please you with beautiful and flowering plant, you need to decide on the variety and provide the crop with proper care. Varieties differ in flowering time. The time of sowing the material depends on this. There are different varieties.

Among all the diversity, the following are especially in demand:

These, of course, are not all varieties; the following are also known: King Arthur, Roksolana, Bunch of Sapphires, Butterfly Mix, cultivated Tsarsky, Naples, Royal Spire, Emerald.

How to grow larkspur from seeds?

It should be noted that delphinium agricultural technology is completely uncomplicated, even a beginner can handle it. But you need to know when to start sowing seeds, how to prepare the material and when to transfer the seedlings to the site. Observing simple rules, you can achieve success in cultivating the flower.

Timing of sowing seeds

Delphinium seeds can be planted in spring and autumn.

Many people use winter sowing. In young plants, the characteristics of the variety during seed propagation are preserved in 90% of cases. But this applies to varieties of classic shape and color. It is better to sow only collected seeds. Then in the fall they will sprout together and endure the winter well. However, overwintered seedlings will be somewhat different from their parents.

The color is influenced by the delphinidin pigment. It is actively formed at low temperatures. The color of the buds also depends on weather conditions, to which the plant is extremely sensitive. The composition of the soil and the level of acidity can also affect the shade. Therefore, spring sowing is more recommended for beginners. Moreover, the sooner it is done, the greater the chance that the crop will bloom in the same year. Until spring, the seeds lose their viability. Seed material should be stored in the refrigerator.

Preparation of seed material

It is better to buy seeds from breeders and trusted nurseries. Because it is important that the material is stored correctly. And ordinary amateur gardeners can violate the rules of saving. Seeds of exotic varieties tend to lose viability at room temperature. The place should be dry, the temperature should not exceed 0 degrees.

Delphinium, which is sold in supermarkets and markets, does not sprout in 70% of cases. And it's not about the gardener. The problem is that the substrate was chosen inappropriately and the fertilizers were used incorrectly. Therefore, it is better to propagate a flower by asking your neighbors for seeds or collecting material from plants that are already growing in the garden plot. Seeds should be collected from healthy specimens. For example, a gray coating indicates powdery mildew. Seedlings with signs of wilting and disease must be discarded.

Before sowing, the seeds are disinfected with a manganese solution. Treatment with fungicides is also allowed. For example, Maxim, Fitosporin is suitable. To increase germination, the material is soaked in water with the addition of Zircon or Epin.

After feeding, the seeds are laid out in a thin layer on damp gauze, rolled up and placed in a plastic container. The container is placed in the refrigerator for a week. After this time, white dots hatch. After which the workpiece is placed on the windowsill and kept under phytolamps for several days. Warmed and germinated seeds are planted in boxes with a special substrate or in a garden plot.

Recommendations from experts on growing delphinium

Beginners often have difficulties cultivating spurs, usually all of them are associated with ignorance of agricultural technology and non-compliance with recommendations.

Therefore, let’s look at how to grow a plant correctly. There are secrets to growing delphinium from seeds that allow you to get beautifully blooming healthy plant. Optimal timing The dates for planting and replanting are late April - early May. In autumn they are planted at the beginning of September. But the main thing here is not to be late. After all, if the culture does not have time to take root, it will not survive the winter. The plant loves a fertile and loose substrate in which moisture does not stagnate.

The spur is quite large. Therefore, it is necessary to maintain a certain distance between the bushes - about a meter. It is better to choose a place that is sunny and windless. The stems are quite tall, so they need support.

For planting, holes are dug with a diameter of 40 centimeters and a depth of half a meter. Prepare a mixture of leaf soil, garden soil, humus, peat. Add mineral fertilizer. If the soil is acidic, add lime or ash. Planting should be done so that the root collar, after watering and shrinking, is flush with the surface.

Larkspur is beautiful plant, which is used in landscape design. Presented by various types and varieties. They are usually propagated by seed. It is simple, but requires strict adherence to the algorithm. Check out the article:

Delphinium is loved by many gardeners for its long flowering, unpretentiousness, frost resistance and spectacular appearance, with good care blooms twice per season.

The plant can be found throughout Russia - about 100 species in the wild. Worldwide, delphinium grows primarily in Southeast Asia (especially China) and North America, several species are native to the highlands of Africa.

Attention: all parts of the delphinium are poisonous; when working with it (dividing the rhizome, replanting), you should be careful and wash your hands thoroughly after work.

Delphinium - description

Delphinium Delphinium belongs to the buttercup family, there are about 450 species in the genus, among which there are perennial and annual herbaceous plants.

In gardening, as a rule, hybrids are grown that are obtained by crossing certain species: tall delphinium Delphinium elatum, large-flowered delphinium Delphinium grandiflora and Barlow's delphinium Delphinium Barlowii.

All of them have split leaves, slightly different in shape - three, five or seven-parted, with large segments and almost round in outline; some have narrow, thin leaf segments and leaves that look like lacy, openwork.

The leaf segments have a smooth edge or are serrated, in some species they are wide open, in others they are wide, overlapping each other.

The height of the bushes is from 40 – 50 cm dwarf varieties, up to 2 meters for large ones.

The root system is powerful, the bush has a well-branched rhizome with many dense adventitious roots. Over the years, the central part of the rhizome dies off, and the side shoots grow in width and form independent plants and wide curtains.

The flower consists of five colored petal-shaped sepals; the upper sepal has a hollow funnel-shaped appendage - a spur, which contains two nectaries. Spur dimensions different types from 5 – 10 mm to 2 – 4 cm. In some varieties, eyes (staminodes) are preserved in the middle of the flowers: several small petals, contrasting in color with the sepals (a characteristic color for delphinium species) and serving as a take-off platform for pollinating insects. And delphiniums are pollinated mainly by bumblebees.

Delphinium flowers are collected in a pyramidal inflorescence on a long peduncle:

• blue
• white
• purple
• pink
• lilac simple
• semi-double or terry
• There are two-color varieties

The flowering of delphiniums begins depending on the latitude - from May or June and lasts for a month.

Name

Presumably Delphinium received its botanical name due to the similarity of the unopened flower to the shape of the head and body of a dolphin.

However, romantic people prefer the legend of a talented young man from Ancient Hellas, who sculpted a sculpture of his dead lover from stone and breathed life into it. The gods considered this to be insolence and punished him by turning him into a dolphin. Once a girl came to the seashore and saw a dolphin in the waves; he swam up to her and presented her with a blue delphinium flower.

The second name of the flower is more popular - Larkspur, literally “living bone” - it was born thanks to medicinal properties a plant that helps with the healing of wounds and fractures (in the form of lotions).

Also, sometimes the plant is called the old-fashioned Spurnik - the name is derived from the shape of the outgrowth-appendage on the upper sepal, which looks like a cavalry spur.

Delphinium varieties

The huge variety of hybrid delphiniums has led to the creation of a classification accepted in the international gardening community:

1. Elatum Group (Elatum Gruppe) - hybrids in parents of which the tall delphinium (D. elatum), the most popular and available in Russia - perennial, medium-sized, about 150 - 180 cm tall, dense inflorescences, with blue-blue flowers of various shades, varieties : “Ariel”, “Malvine”, “Persival”, etc. Subgroup of New Zealand hybrids - included in the group of Elatum hybrids, tall varieties, about 160 - 200 cm. Feature- very dense peduncles, double flowers.
2. Belladonna Gruppe - hybrids from large-flowered delphiniums (D. grandiflora) and labiate (D. cheilanthum), low varieties, about 80 - 120 cm, loose inflorescences (flowers are not densely arranged): “Atlantis”, “Casa Blanca” , “Capri”, “Lamartine”, “Piccolo”, etc.
3. Pacific hybrids (Pacific Gruppe) are tall varieties, about 150 - 160 cm with dense large inflorescences, many semi-double and double: “Astolat”, “Black Knight”, “Blue Bird”, “Galahad”, “King Arthur”, etc. They are grown as annuals or biennials, these varieties have lower winter hardiness.
4. Group Marfinsky hybrids - popular varieties domestic selection— N.I. Malyutin (Moscow region, state farm “Marfino”). Very tall plants of various colors; during seed propagation, varietal characteristics are lost. Popular varieties: “Lilac Spiral”, “Daughter of Winter”, “Blue Lace”, “Morpheus”, “Pink Sunset”, etc.
5. Scottish hybrids (Scotland Gruppe) are fairly tall perennial plants (mostly from 120 cm to 150 cm, inflorescence 60 - 80 cm), appeared relatively recently, selection was aimed, among other things, at lengthening the shelf life of cut inflorescences. Delphiniums last in vases for a really long time. F1 hybrids generally have dense or double flowers, retain varietal characteristics well during seed propagation, and are frost-resistant. Popular varieties: Moon Light, Sweet Sensation, Depest Pink, Morning Sunrise, Blueberry Pie, Crystal Delight, etc.

Planting delphinium

Delphinium grows best on light loams, but when transplanting old bushes or planting cuttings, planting pits you need to add peat and humus about a bucket per 1 square meter. m flower beds. If the soil on the site is acidic, a month before planting or in the fall you need to add slaked lime or dolomite flour.

Plants can remain in one place for up to 8 years without replanting.

Most varieties, with the exception of dwarf varieties, need staking; the appearance is especially spoiled by sudden wind or rain - the inflorescences fall from the weight of the water and from gusts of wind.

• Delphiniums grow well in fertile, well-drained soil, in full sun or very light shade, with shelter from strong winds. However, the decorative appearance of the foliage and the duration of flowering are better if the flowers are under shade in the afternoon.
• Soil acidity is closer to neutral pH 6.0 - 7.0, but delphinium can grow in a wider range of soil acidity.
• Larkspur is frost-resistant, able to withstand frosts down to minus 40°, but there are varieties that are more tender and heat-loving. In any case, you shouldn’t risk it and cover your flower beds with spruce branches in the fall.
• Delphiniums do not tolerate stagnation of water (waterlogging) in the soil.

To plant delphinium bushes in prepared flower beds with well-drained and structured soil, you need to make holes and be sure to add fertilizer to the soil: 1 liter of humus, 60-70 g of superphosphate per 1 square meter. m. Then the planting site is filled with peat or humus.

What to plant next to delphinium? After the end of flowering, delphiniums quickly lose their decorative properties - the leaves partially dry out, so it is better to plant decorative foliage plants nearby: cereals, hostas, heucheras, etc.

Delphinium - care

Delphinium care consists of:

• regular fertilizing with fertilizers
• pruning and thinning of bushes
• garter of adult plants
• disease control

Delphiniums are fed when they begin to grow in the spring. Use manure diluted 1:10 - 10 liters per 3 sq.m. or 16:16:16 - 70 grams per 1 sq.m. The same fertilizing is done every summer month.

To reduce the impact of pathogenic organisms, it is recommended in the spring after the first fertilizing to spill the soil with a solution of biological products or.

After flowering, the inflorescences are cut off. For the winter, the bush is pruned sharp to a stump height of 15 cm. In this case, the cut stems are filled with plasticine, clay, i.e. material that prevents water from entering the cut stem to prevent rotting. In the spring, after the growth of the stems reaches 30 cm, weak shoots are removed, as well as those growing inward. It is optimal to leave 5 – 6 stems per bush.

After the bushes have grown to a height of half a meter, they are tied with tape to pegs or, preferably, thin rods, of which at least two are needed for each bush. The height of the twigs should be at least one and a half meters for tall varieties. In addition, the delphinium bush is tied up again when it reaches a height of one meter. If you tie up the delphinium incorrectly, then during strong winds the stems may fall, especially during rain, because the inflorescences gain moisture and become heavy. Narrow ropes can cut through the thin stem of a flower.

Delphiniums are often damaged by powdery mildew. Among the pests, the plant is usually attacked by slugs and the delphinium fly.

To prevent powdery mildew, bushes are sprayed with iodine or Topaz solution. This procedure is performed after all the leaves have blossomed, but before the buds form.

It is used against the delphinium fly. To combat slugs, loosen the soil and weed the weeds, then mulch with peat.

In dry times, delphinium needs watering, especially during flowering. We must ensure that the soil under the bushes does not dry out, but waterlogging is also dangerous.

Delphinium propagation

Growing delphinium from seeds

Delphinium seeds are available in flower shops and online stores, however, not all plants grown from seeds retain varietal characteristics; you need to clarify this point when purchasing.

To grow delphinium from seeds, stratification is required - the seed must lie in the cold for at least 2 - 3 months, then the shoots will be friendly and strong, especially for “old” seeds.

Seeds that have been stored for more than a year significantly lose their viability.

There are two options, the first is to put the seeds for stratification in the refrigerator, at 2° - 4°, the more time you have, the better. Therefore, if you order seeds by mail, do it in the fall.

The second option is to sow larkspur seeds in the fall in a separate “children’s” bed in the garden. In any case, the seeds should not be kept warm at room temperature, otherwise they will lose their viability within a few months. Even if you are not going to sow, store it in the refrigerator.

Before sowing in the beds in the fall, there is no need to soak the seeds, but when sowing seedlings at the end of March or April, it is better to soak them for 2 - 3 days.

Sowing seeds in boxes or deep (8 - 10 cm) bowls filled with nutritious soil: garden soil, humus and coarse river sand, taken in equal parts.

There is no need to plant the seeds in the ground, just scatter them over the surface and moisten them with water from a spray bottle. Then knock on the wall of the pot, the seeds themselves will settle into the ground to the desired depth (ideally it should be 2 - 3 mm).

Crops should be placed in a cool place to germinate at a temperature of 12° - 15°, moistened with a sprayer as soon as the soil dries. Do not keep the boxes with seeds warm under normal home conditions, when the temperature is 20° and above and the seedlings grow weak and unsuitable for growing in open ground. Place the crops on a loggia or balcony, or you can place them on a window on the landing.

If the seeds are sown in the beds in the fall, they begin to germinate without any preliminary preparation at temperatures of 8° and above; mass shoots will appear when the temperature reaches about 15°.

Once the seeds have sprouted, you need to make sure they have enough light to grow. Water moderately, without overdrying or excess dampness. When the seedlings have 1 - 2 pairs of true leaves, they need to be planted into separate seedling cups or plastic jars 12 - 15 cm high (250 ml), at the bottom of which 5 - 6 holes must be made for water drainage.

Delphinium seedlings are very susceptible to root rot (blackleg), so avoid dampness and you can water the crops with phytosporin once every two weeks.

Reproduction of delphinium by dividing the bush

Vegetative propagation of delphinium - by dividing the bush or cuttings - allows you to preserve all varietal characteristics of the young bush.

The safest way is propagation by cuttings. When dividing a bush, there is a high probability of disease and plant death due to the hollow structure of the stems and rhizomes.

You can divide the bushes starting from 3 to 4 years of age. Division is carried out in the spring, with the beginning of the growing season, the appearance of the first green leaves - dig up the bush with a pitchfork, trying not to damage the rhizome, and carefully separate several parts of the rhizome with one or two shoots.

Sprinkle the cutting areas near the divisions with birch charcoal powder and plant them in a new place in the flowerbed. To organize flower work on dividing bushes, choose warm sunny days, without rain and cold nights, then the plants take root well.

Propagation by cuttings

Cuttings are taken in spring from young shoots. The length of the cuttings is 10–15 cm, and the cutting should cover 3 cm of the rhizome. The cuttings are planted for a month in a shaded place and sprayed twice a day. The soil should be slightly moist at all times. After a month, the rooted cuttings can be planted in a flower bed.

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Family: buttercups (Ranunculaceae).

Motherland

In nature, delphiniums grow in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres (Europe, Asia, America, Africa). Many species are native to Southeast Asia, particularly China. The genus Delphinium has about 400 species.

Form: annual or perennial herbaceous plant.

Description

Delphinium (larkspur, spur) - powerful tall perennial from 0.2 to 3 m tall. Delphinium leaves are alternate, slightly pubescent, palmately divided, often strongly and deeply dissected into pointed or jagged lobes. The flowers of the plants are simple, irregular, non-double, usually blue, blue or violet, collected in inflorescences, consisting of five sepals, the upper of which is crowned with a spur - a hollow elongated outgrowth, which, as a rule, serves to accumulate nectar. This structure of delphinium flowers attracts bees and other insects. Plants bloom at the end of June and bloom throughout July (there are also late-flowering species and varieties that bloom at the end of July). Unopened delphinium buds are shaped like the body of a dolphin. Delphinium fruit - leaflet. Most delphiniums have a racemose root system (numerous adventitious roots extend from the rhizome in a bunch, but there is no main root).

(D. brunonianum). Heat-loving, non-wintering Middle lane Russia plant from 0.3 to 0.5 cm. The leaves of the Bruno delphinium are funnel-shaped, five-parted; the flowers are usually blue or purple, with a black eye, collected in paniculate inflorescences of 5-10 pieces. Delphinium Bruno is perfect for planting in rocky gardens. In nature, plants grow in the high mountainous regions of the Pamirs, Tibet, India and Afghanistan.

(D. elatum). A very elegant tall plant from 0.8 to 1.5 m tall (sometimes reaching a height of more than 3 m). Leaf blade tall delphinium round, deeply heart-shaped at the base; the leaves are dissected into jagged unequal lobes. Tall delphinium flowers are blue or blue-violet, collected in racemes of 20-60 pieces. In nature, plants grow in Northern Europe, Mongolia, the European part of Russia and Siberia.

Delphinium holostem (D. nudicaule). The plant grows from 0.4 to 1 m tall. The flowers of the holostem delphinium are semi-closed, scarlet-red, collected in loose paniculate inflorescences of 10-20 pieces. Eat garden forms plants with bright red and orange flowers. In central Russia, the holostem delphinium does not overwinter. In nature, the plants are found in the mountainous regions of California.

Delphinium blue (D. glaucum). Plants are from 0.2 to 0.4 m high. The leaves of blue delphinium are semicircular, palmately divided. The flowers of the plants are bright, cornflower blue, with a dark eye; collected in loose paniculate inflorescences. Delphinium blue is unstable in central Russia, but the plants self-sow and are renewed by seeds. In nature, blue delphinium is found in Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet.

Delphinium labiosa (D. cheilanthum). Plants from 0.5 to 1 m tall with a bare, smooth, unevenly leafy stem. The leaves of delphinium labiata are green above, bluish below, and pubescent. The flowers of the plants are lilac-violet, bluish or dark gray, collected in a multi-flowered raceme. Delphinium labiate is the ancestor of many cultivated varieties. In nature, plants are found in Eastern Siberia.

(D. cashmerianum). The plant is from 0.2 to 0.4 m in height. The leaf blade of Kashmiri delphinium is rounded, the leaves are five-parted, serrated along the edges, appearance resemble cuff leaves. The flowers of the plants are half-open, of an original shape, light purple or bluish, with a black eye. In nature, delphinium Kashmiri grows in India (Kashmir).

Delphinium is beautiful (D. speciosum). A very impressive species with a height of 0.3 to 0.8 m. The leaves of the beautiful delphinium are round-heart-shaped, five-parted, dissected into wedge-shaped lobes. The flowers are bluish or light purple, with a contrasting black eye, look bicolor, collected in multi-flowered racemes. The homeland of the beautiful delphinium is the Caucasus.

Delphinium red (D. cardinale). Tall plant up to 2 m tall. Red delphinium flowers are scarlet-red with a red or yellow eye; collected in inflorescences of 15-30 pieces. Plants do not overwinter in central Russia. In nature, red delphinium grows in Southern California and Mexico.

Delphinium grandiflora , or delphinium chinensis (D. grandiflorum or chinensis). Plants are from 0.3 to 0.8 m high with a straight, branched, short-hairy stem. The leaves of delphinium grandiflora are repeatedly trifoliate, dissected into narrow lobes. The flowers of the plants are wide open, bright blue, less often white or pink, collected in rare racemes. Large-flowered delphinium is grown as an annual. In nature, Chinese delphinium grows in Eastern Siberia, the Far East, Korea, Mongolia and China.

Delphinium half-bearded (D. semibarbatum). The plant grows from 0.3 to 1.5 m tall. The leaves of delphinium semibeardum are repeatedly dissected into narrow lobes. The flowers of the plants are very showy: bright yellow, with a greenish tint and a yellow eye, collected in multi-flowered racemes. Delphinium half-bearded is quite winter-hardy, but suffers from excess rainfall both in winter and in summer; plants categorically do not tolerate flooding, so they often die in summer cottages. In nature, half-bearded delphinium grows in Central Asia, Iran, and Afghanistan.

Delphinium rocky (D.scopulorum). A winter-hardy plant with a height of 1 to 1.5 m. The leaves of delphinium rock are five- or seven-parted. The flowers of the plants are blue or purple, less often white, collected in dense racemes. The birthplace of the rock delphinium is Mexico.

Delphinium cultivated , or delphinium hybrid (D. x cultorum). This group unites all kinds of forms and varieties obtained as a result of selection. All hybrid delphiniums are classified depending on their origin into several main groups.

Growing conditions

Delphinium (larkspur) prefers lighted areas with shading during the midday hours. Delphiniums grow well in sandy or loamy, humus-rich, moderately moist, well soils. Plants are drought-resistant and suffer greatly from excess moisture in the soil, so they should not be planted in places where water accumulates. Delphinium is a plant that does not tolerate salinity. Plants should be planted in places protected from the wind. As a rule, delphiniums are winter-hardy (with the exception of certain species), but to a greater extent the plants suffer due to snowless winters, temperature changes, thaws, flooding, and prolonged rains in the summer.

Application

Delphinium is one of the most popular plants in landscaping summer cottages. Delphinium is a flower that will always look great in the garden: in group plantings, in mixed plantings, as a background plant in various compositions. The spur is also good in quality. Low-growing varieties of delphiniums can be planted in - and. Contrasting color combinations of delphiniums with each other or with other plants look very impressive. The variety of shapes and varieties of delphinium provides room for imagination and allows you to create unique compositions. For example, bright blue or pink delphinium will look good with different colors of needles, and dark purple varieties will emphasize the originality of the golden ‘Aurea’.

Larkspur is also good for cutting and lasts a long time in water.

Care

Delphinium needs mainly fertilizing, which is necessary for its active growth and the formation of a large vegetative mass from powerful shoots with large leaves. The first feeding is done when the spur reaches 10-15 cm in height, the second - during budding or the beginning of flowering, the third - at the end of flowering. With each feeding, delphiniums are watered abundantly. soils on which delphinium grows need.

To obtain powerful flower stalks, delphinium bushes are thinned out. This is done in the spring, when the plants reach 20-30 cm in height; remove thin and weak shoots. Since the inflorescences of most delphiniums are very powerful, with large flowers and can break under their own weight, the plants must be tied up: first at a height of 40-50 cm, later at a height of 100-120 cm. Delphiniums are tied up very carefully, since its shoots are very brittle. When tying, you should not use twine - it can pull the shoots and cut them; It is better to tie delphiniums with cotton ribbons.

For winter, delphinium shoots are cut at a height of approximately 30 cm from ground level. This is done for preventive purposes, since pests and fungal spores can overwinter in plant debris.

Reproduction

Delphinium is propagated by seeds or vegetatively. Annual delphinium propagated by seeds. Delphinium seeds are sown in open ground; sowing of delphinium is carried out in spring or autumn. Perennial delphinium Propagated by seeds and vegetatively - and by dividing the bush. Growing delphinium from seeds is possible, but varietal characteristics may not be preserved, so cultivars are propagated by cuttings and dividing the bush. For division, it is better to use 3-4 year old bushes, since divisions taken from young plants will take root better and faster. Delphinium is divided and replanted in the spring or in the second half of summer. When cutting, take the upper part of the young stem when it reaches about 10 cm in height. It is better to carry out cuttings in the spring. The cuttings are planted in boxes or in greenhouses, shading the plantings from the sun. Delphinium cuttings will take about three to five weeks to root. Planting delphinium on permanent place held next spring; the distance between plants when planting is 30-40 cm.

Diseases and pests

Delphinium is a flower susceptible to the following diseases: root collar rot, rust, powdery mildew, spotting, wilting, mosaic, viral diseases(leaf curl, dwarfism). The most dangerous pests spider mite, onion fly, root-knot nematode, aphids, slugs and others. Allows you to avoid possible diseases correct agricultural technology delphinium. To avoid diseases, the delphinium needs to be thinned out, old, weak, diseased shoots and dry leaves must be promptly removed, and the quality must be carefully monitored planting material during vegetative propagation.

Popular varieties

Varieties of hybrid delphinium

Group "Belladonna"- Hybrids obtained mainly from Delphinium grandiflora and Delphinium labiosa. The varieties are distinguished by branched paniculate inflorescences and strongly dissected leaves. Varieties bloom in June-July, repeated flowering is possible in August. These include:

Marfin hybrids- varieties of domestic selection. Plants form dense bushes up to 1.6-1.8 m high. The flowers are very graceful, semi-double, collected in tall pyramidal inflorescences. These include:

‘Spring Snow’- flowers are white with a slight purple tint and a black eye;

‘Blue lace’- dark blue flowers with a white eye;

‘Daughter of Winter’- snow-white flowers with a black eye;

‘The Pledge of Youth’- pale pink flowers with a black eye;

'Caravan'- dark lavender flowers with a white eye;

‘Lavender Obelisk’- delicate lavender flowers with a black eye;

'Summer morning'- flowers are lilac-pink with a white eye;

'Morpheus'

‘Memory of the Cranes’- purple flowers with a black eye;

‘Pink Sunset’- flowers are lilac-pink with a black eye;