PlantFiles: Larkspur, Candle Delphinium
Delphinium elatum

some germination notes:

Sow at 71-75*F; germination in less than 2 weeks.

Park's Success with Seeds (1978) further notes that seeds of delphinium have a short-term viability, so should not be stored, but sown as fresh as possible. Also, that seed should be covered as they require darkness to germinate.

From a source I can't remember: If you're sowing seed in the summer, it might help to refrigerate the seed a couple of weeks before sowing to facilitate germination.

Ours was grown from seed by methods #1 & 3 above in summer a few years ago, and in spite of only getting half a day's sun "thanks" to a monster silver maple, has been a great time machine taking us back to by-gone times, coming up through rue, southernwood and yellow roses.

I have delphiniums growing all over in various gardens around our property. Wonderful short-lived perennial that I grow for use in dried arrangements (and just to enjoy them nodding in the breeze!).
I grow several types: Black Knight and Round Table mixture being the most prevalent in my garden and have colors like deep blue with white or black bees, lavendar, violet, white and pink. Although for drying I prefer the dark blue, the violet/lavendar are probably my favorite - so delicate yet just awesome in color.

They grow well in full sun here in zone 5, in well drained soil. Very hardy - have lived through winters with no protection (mulch) down to -25 degrees and come back like gangbusters. If cut back after first flowers, will comeback to rebloom all the way until frost. Some powdery mildew problems so make sure and discard all leaves and stems when you cut back or cut down for the winter.

Deer resistant for me, however, a friend that lives a few miles away reported that deer ate all of her blooms in one night. Guess it just depends on taste! I was very surprised to hear this as I believed this plant would be toxic to deer as well.

A wonderful, beautifull stately perennial plant. Can grow quite tall actually to 130 cm and may need staking from strong winds. Good for a cottage garden. A great perennial plant. pokerboy.

this plant is a great addition to any garden. it is so pretty when several spikes are in bloom at the same time. and if you look at the picture i summited it is not that color. it is a pale blue, something messed up with the program i was using. GO VOLS!!!!!!!!!

Can I give this a strong positive and a strong negative? Strong positive when plant has survived to at least 3 years old: the clumps become regal-sized, many flowering stalks. Usually dies after that in most of US leaving severe depression, and a big hole in the border. "My delphiniums!" is a cry often heard.

This clump-forming perennial is the tall, regal, early-blooming garden plant that most people think of when they hear delphinium. This lovely plant is often described as "stately." Blooming spires of rich blues, pale purples, bright whites, pinks, yellows, or reds bloom from early to mid-summer. The leaves are divided, lobed, and are medium to bright green.

The name comes from the Greek delphis, meaning dolphin. Ancient Greeks thought the shape of the flower bud resembled that of a dolphin.