Delphinium

( del - FIN - ee - um )

At-A-Glance Information

This genus of perennials, biennials and annuals includes plants that need full sun in most cases and regular waterings. Their flowers will attract birds to your garden. Flowers can come in shades of red, pink, lavender and purple and leaves are lobed and divided. All make great additions to borders and make dramatic additions to cut flower arrangements. These plants are native to many areas throughout the Northern Hemisphere and northern Africa. 

Delphinium Species and Varietals

The genus Delphinium includes around 300 species and is a member of the plant family Ranunculaceae. Delphinium growing zones vary depending on the species; for more information, see the descriptions below. ​To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Delphinium andersonii (Anderson's Larkspur)
This wildflower species is native to western North America, where it grows in the Great Basin and amongst the Sierra Nevadas. These erect perennial plants reach a foot and a half tall when in bloom. Flowers are typically a brilliant dark blue, though this varies a bit and sometimes blooms can be seen bicolored, purple-lavender or white.

Delphinium bakeri (Baker's Larkspur)
Endemic to California, this species is both endangered with extinction and federally protected, known from one wild population near Salmon Creek in Sonoma County. Leaves occur towards the top of the plant, and flowers are blue and white. This species is named for botanist Milo Samuel Baker.

Delphinium barbeyi (Subalpine Larkspur, Tall Larkspur, Barbey's Larkspur)
This species is native to Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming, and reaches up to 5 feet tall when in bloom. Flower inflorescences can hold up to 50 violet to dark purple flowers when in bloom. 

​Delphinium x belladonna
This species grows best in zones 1-9 and 14-24. It has a sturdy and busy habit, to 3-4 feet tall and 2 feet wide. Flower clusters are airy, and come in a variety of colors. Varieties include 'Belladonna' (with light blue flowers), 'Bellamosum' (with dark blue blooms, pictured), 'Casablanca' (with white flowers), and 'Cliveden Beauty' (with deep turqoise blooms).

Delphinium brunonianum (Musk Larkspur)
​Reaching up to 10 inches tall at maturity, these plants produce cup-shaped purple flowers in June and July. Musk Larkspur is native to Central Asia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tibet, and the Himalayan Mountains. 

Delphinium californicum (California Larkspur)
Endemic to California's San Francisco Bay area and Central Coast, this species of Larkspur produces a deep root and large inflorescences of up to 50 greenish-white to lavender somewhat tubular flowers.

Delphinium cardinale (Scarlet Larkspur, Cardinal Larkspur)
This native of California grows best in zones 7 and 14-23. It gets 3-6 feet tall and 2 feet wide, with an erect habit. Roots are thick and woody. Flowers have a scarlet calyx and yellow petals with scarlet tips. Seeds will bloom in the first year.

Delphinium carolinianum (Carolina Larkspur)
This perennial flowering plant is native to the central and eastern portions of North America, and prefers to grow in prairies and rocky glades. Blue to white flowers bloom in springtime.

Delphinium decorum (Yellow-Tinge Larkspur, Coastal Larkspur)
Native to Oregon's southern coast down through the San Francisco Bay Area, California, this species forms star-shaped blue to deep purple flowers. sometimes with lighter or even white upper petals. Spurs are thin and long.

Delphinium denudatum (Jadwar)
Native to central Asia, this species is important in India as a medicinal plant, used to treat poisonings, diseases, infections, and as an analgesic. It is a wildflower species, and produces blue star-shaped flowers.

Delphinium depauperatum (Slim Larkspur, Dwarf Larkspur)
This wildflower species is native to North America, and naturally grows in mountain meadows. From short root systems, these plants produce 16-inch (or less) tall flowering stalks of deep blue and white flowers with spurs. 
Delphinium elatum (Candle Delphinium, Candle Larkspur, Alpine Delphinium, Guardian Lavender, Candle Larkspur)
This species grows in zones A1-A3, 1-10 and 14-24. Native to Siberia, this plant reaches between 3 and 6 feet tall and 2 feet wide and has small dark purple flowers. Choice garden varieties are outlined below:
'Summer Skies'
With light blue flowers.
'Blue Bird'
With medium-blue flowers.
'Blue Jay'
With medium blue to dark blue blooms.
'Galahad'
Clear white flowers with purple centers. 
'Blue Fountains'
To 2-2.5 feet tall.
'Magic Fountains'
Grows up to 2 to 2.5 feet tall.
'Blue Springs'
Gets to 2-2.5 feet tall.
English Delphinium Mix
This group gets 6-8 feet tall and has double flowers in blue, purple, mauve, pink, and white.
'Centurion'
Grows to 4-5 feet tall and blooms in the first year from seed.

Delphinium exaltatum (Tall Larkspur)
Native to the central and eastern areas of the United States, this species of Delphinium reaches six and a half feet tall when in bloom, and produces an inflorescence of up to 30 blue-purple to lavender or white flowers from July through September. 

Delphinium glaucum (Sierra Larkspur, Mountain Larkspur, Glaucus Larkspur)
These wildflowers are native to western North America, from Arizona up to Alaska, and prefer to grow in mountains alongside riverbanks or in meadows. These plants reach up to 10 feet tall when in bloom, and produce purple to dark violet blooms, with lighter-colored upper petals.

Delphinium gracilentum (Pine Forest Larkspur)
Endemic to California, this species grows throughout the Sierra Nevada mountain ranges, and typically reaches about a foot and a half tall at maturity. Flowers are widely spaced in inflorescences, and are blue, though they are occasionally white to pinkish.

​Delphinium grandiflorum (Delphinium Chinense) (Chinese Delphinium, Bouquet Delphinium, Siberian Larkspur)
This is a species of short-lived perennials that are commonly treated as annuals or biennials. They grow best in zones A1-A3, 1-10 and 14-24. They have a bushy, branching habit and get to about 1 foot tall and about as wide. Varieties include 'Dwarf Blue Mirror' (1 foot tall with deep blue flowers), 'Tom Thumb' (8 inches tall with blue flowers), and those in the Blue Butterfly group (which grow to 14 inches tall and have deep blue blooms).

Delphinium gypsophilum (Gypsum-Loving Larkspur, Panoche Creek Larkspur, Pinoche Creek Larkspur)
These plants are endemic to California, where it grows in the central mountainous region of the state at lower-elevations. These plants reach about 5 feet tall at maturity, and produce a pale green stem topped with pale blue to chalky white flowers, occasionally with pink hues. 

Delphinium hesperium (Western Larkspur, Coastal Larkspur)
These woodland and grassland loving plants are endemic to California, where they can be found in the northern part of the state. These are considered wildflowers, and reach 1.5-3 feet tall at maturity. Leaves are deeply lobed and prominently veined, and flowers are brilliant blue to purple, sometimes lighter in the upper petals. There are three subspecies of this plant, including Cuyamaca Larkspur, and Pale-Flowered Western Larkspur.

Delphinium hutchinsoniae (Hutchinson's Larkspur, Monterey Larkspur)
Endemic to California, this species of wildflower typically reaches about three feet tall when in bloom, and produces an inflorescence with no more than 10 flowers. Flowers are brilliant purple to lavender in color, and often have lighter-colored to white upper petals. 

Delphinium inopinum (Unexpected Larkspur)
This wildflower species is native to the Sierra Nevadas in California, where it grows in open forest habitats. Inflorescences hold up to 25 flowers that are lavender, dark purple, and white. 

Delphinium leucophaeum (White Rock Larkspur, Pale Larkspur)
Endemic to the Willamette Valley in Oregon, this species is considered to be endangered, and produces white flowers with green markings on each petal tip and blue centers.

Delphinium luteum (Yellow Larkspur)
This critically endangered species is native to Sonoma County, California and produces unique yellow flowers that are more elongated than those of other species. Flowers commonly have 

​Delphinium nudicaule (Scarlet Larkspur, Canyon Larkspur, Red Larkspur, Orange Larkspur, Canyon Delphinium)
This species grows best in zones 5-7 and 14-17 and is native to Northern California and southwestern Oregon. It forms a slender, upright plant that gets 1-3 feet tall and a little less than one foot wide. Sparse red blooms; this plant needs sun or partial shade and is best in woodland plantings.

​Delphinium nuttallianum (Two-Lobe Larkspur, Upland Larkspur, Common Larkspur, Nuttall's Larkspur)
These plants are native to western North America, from Canada down through California. They prefer to grow in mountain meadows and sagebrush steppe landscapes, and produces blue-purple to white flowers.

Delphinium parishii (Desert Larkspur)
This species, as its common name suggests, is a desert-dwelling wildflower that is native to the Mojave Desert in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Flowers range from light blue to purple and bloom between April and June each year.

Delphinium pavonaceum (Delphinium x pavonaceum) (Peacock Delphinium, Peacock Larkspur)
Endemic to the Willamette Valley in Oregon, this wildflower species reaches just under 40 inches tall at maturity, and produces beautiful inflorescences of white flowers with dark purple centers. Flowers bloom from April through June each year. 

Delphinium peregrinum (Violet Larkspur)
This species is native to the Mediterranean region, and blooms between April and August. Flowers are typically deep purple to lavender in color, and their shape is reminiscent of a scorpion, with long spurs that curve upwards. These plants do well in heavier soils. 

Delphinium purpusii (Kern County Larkspur, Rose-Flowered Larkspur)
Endemic California's Tulare and Kern counties, this species of wildflower reaches between 1 and 3 feet tall when in bloom. Flowers in this species are rose-colored and form in inflorescences of up to 20 blooms per flower stalk. This species is considered rare.

Delphinium recurvatum (Byron Larkspur, Recurved Larkspur, Valley Larkspur)
Native to California's central valley, this species of wildflower is uncommonly seen, considered endangered due to development activities in its native range. These plants reach a maximum of about a foot and a half tall, and produce blue flowers that have lower darker petals. Sepals are typically curved back, hence the specific epithet recurvatum.

Delphinium tricorne (Dwarf Larkspur, Spring Larkspur)
This species of Larkspur is native to the central and eastern areas of the United States, and produces greyish-green foliage. Flowers are typically white, blue, purple, or a combination of those colors.

Delphinium trolliifolium (Poison Delphinium, Cow Poison, Columbian Larkspur)
Native to Washington, Oregon, and California, this widespread wildflower species reaches just over three feet tall when in bloom, and produces green foliage. Flowers are typically deep to brilliant blue, with white to light-blue upper petals. 

Delphinium uliginosum (Swamp Larkspur, Bog Larkspur)
Endemic to California's Inner North Coast Ranges, this species prefers to grow in moist environments, and has fan-shaped leaves. Flowers are typically deep blue-purple, and bloom in spring and summertime in their native range. 

Delphinium variegatum (Royal Larkspur)
Endemic to valley and coastal woodlands and grassy areas in California, this wildflower species usually reaches between 1.5 and 2 feet tall when in bloom. Flowers are typically bright blue, and sometimes have lighter colored to white upper petals. 

Delphinium viridescens (Wenatchee Larkspur)
​This species is native to Washington state on the west coast of the United States, and is a unique Larkspur. Flowers produced are dusky purple and green, and bloom in spring and summertime in the plants' native range.
Delphinium Cultivars
There are many different cultivars that have been developed over time, which can be hybrids of the species listed above or simply happy genetic 'accidents'. Some of the most popular cultivars are listed below:
'Atholl'
'Blue Dawn'
'Blue Nile'
'Bruce'
'Cherub'
'Conspicuous'
'Elisabeth Sahin'
'Fenella'
'Jill Curley'​
'Lucia Sahin'
'Margaret'
'Michael Ayres'
'Min'
'Our Deb'
'Raymond Lister'​
'Rosemary Brock'
'Rosy Future'
'Spindrift'
'Sungleam'
'Sweethearts'

Caring for Delphinium

Delphiniums are easy to grow from seed, and need rich, porous soil and regular fertilizing for best performance and blooms. If soil is acidic, add limestone. 

Propagation

Problems and Pests

slugs and snails. 

Gallery

Camellias are great candidates to be grown as container plants on your patio.
A field of thea sinensis
Camellia hiemalis 'Shishi Gashira'

Videos

A video all about growing camellias successfully
Propagating camellias

Resources

Wikipedia: Delphinium
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 283, Delphinium
If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or photos you’d like to add to the gallery, please let me know by sending me a message using the button below!
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