Stunning perennials

Add charm to your garden with delphiniums, boasting tall, elegant spikes of vibrant blooms in lavender, blue, pink and white hues.

Delphiniums (Delphinium grandiflora) are best known for their tall striking columns of massed double and semi double perennial blooms. Often seen as a backdrop planting in cottage gardens, they provide a calming vibe to the garden with their rich shades of lavender, blue, pink and white, with contrasting centres.

How to grow Delphiniums in a garden

Starting from a seedling or potted plant:

Choose a position with full sun and well-drained soil.

Enrich the soil with Yates Thrive Natural Blood & Bone with Seaweed.

When planting into prepared garden beds, ensure seedlings are well spaced. For larger growing varieties, space 40-50cm apart.

Dig the planting hole twice as wide and to the same depth as the root-ball. Remove the plant from the container. Position in hole and backfill, gently firming down. Form a raised ring around the plant, creating a well so that water will go where it’s needed most. Water in well.

Water in gently and keep soil moderately moist at all times.

Mulch with an organic mulch such as bark chips, woodchip or pea straw to a depth of 5- cm, keeping it away from the base of the plant.

Feed with Yates Thrive Natural Roses & Flowers Organic Based Pelletised Plant Food.

TIP: for an added boost, apply Yates Thrive Roses & Flowers Liquid Plant Food.

Starting from seed:

Fill starter pots or trays with Yates Black Magic Seed Raising Mix. Sow seeds, lightly cover with mix, firm down and gently water in well. Keep moist at all times and place in a warm and sheltered position until seedlings have grown to 5cm tall, then plant into the garden.

Alternatively, sow direct where they are to grow in rows or in scattered clumps around the garden. Cover with a 3mm layer of Yates Black Magic Seed Raising Mix. Lightly firm down and keep moist. Just be sure to enrich the soil with Yates Thrive Natural Blood & Bone with Seaweed prior to sowing.

How to grow Delphiniums in a pot

Starting from a seedling or potted plant:

Choose a pot at least 200mm wide with adequate drainage holes.

Position pot in full sun.

Fill the pot with a quality potting mix such as Yates Premium Potting Mix.

Remove the plant from the container. Position in hole and backfill, gently firming down.

Water in gently and keep mix moderately moist at all times.

Feed with Yates Thrive Natural Roses & Flowers Plant Food Concentrate.

Starting from seed:

Fill starter pots or trays with Yates Black Magic Seed Raising Mix. Sow seeds, lightly cover with mix, firm down and gently water in well. Keep moist at all times and place in a warm and sheltered position until seedlings have grown to 5cm tall, then plant into the pot.

Alternatively, sow directly into the pot where they are to grow. Cover with a 3mm layer of Yates Black Magic Seed Raising Mix. Lightly firm down and keep moist.

Growing tips

Plants may require staking for support. Ensure stakes are placed in position at planting time to avoid any root disturbances of the mature plants.

Remove spent flowers to encourage further blooms.

Delphiniums need darkness to germinate. Ensure that you place a piece of newspaper or cardboard over the seeds once planted and remove upon germination.

These plants are poisonous. These are not recommended to be planted in gardens frequented by pets and young children. — Courtesy of Yates