04/18/2026
Lets talk Delphinums 🪻
A fickle plant, no doubt. But, if you know a few little tricks, they can be spectacular!!!
1st "trick" - Buy them as annuals! Don't get too attached, because they have a high mortality rate, and I mean HIGH!
2nd - They require sandy, loamy soil, period. They will not tolerate wet or compost rich soil.
3rd - They need space, they will not compete for attention and nor should they have too!
4th - Life expectancy is approximately 5 years (IF you're lucky)
5th - Do not over water, only water until established, no more after that
6th - Cut plant down to ground after 1st bloom and it will flush back with new growth and bloom again
7th - Steak them with sturdy caging, they will flop all over the place if you don't
8th - They come up a little late in the spring, for an early summer bloomer, don't give up hope! Leave the leaf litter on until a bit later to help they "incubate"
9th - They don't require fertilizer in my experience, they are more likely to perform well when left to their own devices, so long as they have sandy soil with access to 6-8 hours of sunshine
Hope this helps! Let me know in the comments if you've tried other suggestions I have posted in the past about these absolutely stunning, fickle plants that blow my mind every year!
