I have a delphinium that I planted late last season as little more than a small cutting. I didn't expect it to survive, but it came up again this year. It has grown okay for a first year plant but no sign of any bloom. It is in a bed where it gets morning sun--my New Guinea impatiens and heuchera always do well in that bed. I'm wondering if it needs more sun, but am also concerned about frying it with too much sun--the only other delphinium I've ever had hated our hot, muggy summers and flopped over and died on me midsummer, so I have been cautious with this one. Here is a photo of it.



Anyone have any suggestions for it? I'd really love to see it bloom. I was told it is 'Magic Fountain Cherry Blossom'.

It's hard growing plants right on the border or outside of its zones. I have the same problem with currants not producing much but I guess to get the good you have to take the bad. The heat of summer can really do a number on plants intended for colder climates especially in full sun. I'd say keep it in the shade and it will reward you with a few blooms later down the road. Although they might not be as showy as they would be in full sun it's better than losing the plant. At the same time if space is limited you may want to think about replacing it with a heat tolerant variety like New Millennium which was bred in New Zealand and has reportedly lived through the summer heat of zone 8 in GA. Good luck and I hope this helps.

thanks, Daniel--that's a really good point--it is indeed better than losing the plant! Also, thanks for the tip about New Millennium.

Catmint, I just got my first delphinium; couldn't resist the Santa Rosa sale!

On their website, it says to keep mulch away from the base of the plants.

They need well-draining soil (awfully hard to find in my yard!) so I'm going to plant mine on a slope and hope for the best. I'm wondering if I should plant it in a container with super fast-draining soil. I got a dwarf, non-floppy delphinium, so it would do fine in a container. Also, I can just move it underneath the patio umbrella when it gets too hot.

I just talked myself into planting it in a container!

Good tip about New Millennium hybrids! First time I'm hearing of this hybrid.

I have a friend who has grown the New Millennium and swears by them. Seeds are available from their site in NZ, but a bit on the pricey side.

I grew Magic Fountain from seed last year, and got a few blooms first year from small plants - they came back gangbusters this year, and while they are supposed to be "dwarf" a few are over 6 ft. I am loving them. I started more this year, because the first year ones looked so promising, and I am glad I did. Next year I will have dozens.

We did have a thunderstorm a few days ago that broke a few of the largest branches, and knocked a few others sideways, but they still look good.

These are getting about 6 hours of sun a day. We haven't had any heat over 85 yet this year, and had a coolish summer last year, so I don't know how they would hold up to a month of 90's

I grow Pagan Purples, which is one of the New Zealand types. It gets a bit of afternoon shade and I stake it with 6 foot bamboo poles. Every flowering stem gets its own stake, and I use the Velcro strips...a lot of them. Otherwise, any rain or wind topples them over. Mine get to at least 6 feet, some to 7 or more. I don't fertilize or anything. The clump gets larger every year and is now rivaling the size of the burning bush next to it. I have tried at least 4 other varieties, none of which did well for me. But this one seems to be quite vigorous.
Getting back to location, I think you would be fine if you can just temper the hottest afternoon sun a bit. And even if it is a shorter variety, the stems should be staked. They are hollow and very brittle.

Beautiful, Geoff! Maybe mine will be bigger and more bloomiferous next year, like yours and Jeanie's!

Geof, is the one in your photo white or light blue? Do you know the name? It is very nice!

Oops...hit send too quickly...
Catmint, if your delph likes it's spot, it will get bigger. If it doesn't seem to expand, try a different spot. I originally put mine in what I thought was a terrible spot just until the next spring when I planned to move them, but the delphs decided they liked it there and grew like crazy. I only moved them a few years later because they ran out of room in that spot.

Jeanie, I think you might be right about that--just give it another year to see what it does. This year it's really just getting established, so hopefully next year, since it's doing okay in this spot, perhaps I'll see some blooms.

@foraygardengirl

All of my Delphs are from the Magic Fountain Mix. The largest ones have been the white ones, but that maybe because they get the most sun. Peeking out from behind the big white one in the previous pic is a light mauve one which I really like, but the color doesn't show in that pic. And you can see there are a couple of small Purple with white bees leaning over

This shot shows my favorite which is the blue flower with white bee and a better color of the mauve one - these are smaller, in a shadier area, and I will be moving them. The seed I bought this year are color specific, not the mix - I have more of the blue with white bee, and a white with a dark blue bee (the whites from last year are white/white, with a slight greenish tinge to them)

If interested, maybe we could do some trading next spring - I'll have a lot of these new ones, and I'm not quite sure where they will all go when the get big.

Very pretty! I have not tried growing them from seed. I have been fascinated with the pink ones...I had Red Caroline for a couple years. Why do I always want the stuff that is so difficult to hybridize? Yesterday I was thinking about why there are no turquoise colored flowers (that I know of, anyway).
I am trying to reduce things this year rather than add, as my gardens are getting too crowded...but trust me, I will think about having more delphs. They are so spectacular.

That is a very good question about turquoise flowers, Jeanie!