Probably, there is no such gardener who would not dream of growing beautiful flowers on his plot, pleasing the eye with bright petals and delicious aromas. Of course, there are a lot of such plants, but some of them are of particular interest. For example, the delphinium is perennial. Beginning flower growers think that the name of this flower is associated with the appearance of an undeveloped dolphinium - there is an opinion that its shape resembles the head of a dolphin. However, there is a more romantic version. Today we suggest talking about the perennial delphinium, planting and caring for it. We will tell you an interesting legend.
Plant description
What is a delphinium? This is the name of the genus of herbaceous plants belonging to the ranunculaceae family. There are other names: for example, larkspur and fern. In general, there are about 500 varieties of this plant, both annual and perennial. We’ll talk about the latter today.
Often gardeners ask themselves: "Is the delphinium perennial?" There is no cause for concern. This plant is dangerous only for herbivores. However, it is not recommended to plant a delphinium near the apiary, because part of the poisonous substances can be preserved in honey from flower pollen of a flower. Of course, in order to be poisoned, there will not be enough of them, but you still should not take the risk.
The legend of the dolphinium
Many millennia ago, a talented sculptor lived in ancient Greece. When his lover died, he could not accept the loss and sculpted her statue from the stone. He even managed to revive his beloved. Such insolence angered the gods of Olympus, and therefore they turned the young man into a dolphin. The girl waited a long time for her lover on the seashore. Once, a dolphin swam up to her and laid a beautiful flower at her feet, which seemed to have absorbed all the blue of the sea and the azure of the sky. It was this flower that was called the delphinium. Of course, there is a more prosaic version. Some believe that this flower got its name from the city of Delphi, which is located in Greece.
Today the perennial delphinium is a frequent guest of Russian gardens. It literally mesmerizes with its unearthly beauty, resembling light air clouds in appearance. But in order to enjoy the beautiful appearance of flowers, you need to know how to plant this plant and how to care for it.
Features
Flowering of delphiniums begins in June and can last for a whole month. By the way, this plant can bloom repeatedly in the fall. This is possible if you cut off all the flower stalks after the first flowering. Inflorescences, more like tall candles, consist of 50-80 flowers. Flowering begins from below. You can consider the delicate inflorescences of this plant for an incredibly long time, because each variety has its own petal shape: there are sharp, wide, round, with curls. In addition, there are such hybrid varieties in which petals of different shapes are located on one flower.
Most varieties of perennial delphinium have a branched root system, in which there is no main rhizome. Roots lie horizontally, every year they release young shoots.
Types of Dolphiniums
Gardeners divide perennial delphiniums of hybrid varieties into several types:
- New Zealand Delphiniums of this species are distinguished by large double or semi-double flowers of rich shades, collected in dense brushes.
- Mafinsky. This species is characterized by tall bushes reaching 200 cm. The flowers at these dolphiniums are semi-double.
- Pacific. Another name for this hybrid is the Pacific. The length of terry inflorescences can reach one meter, the bushes themselves grow up to 2 m.
- Elatum. For this type of delphinium, the common color of inflorescences is characteristic: from light blue to saturated purple.
- Belladonna. This species differs from others in that its inflorescences hang over with panicles.
It is worth noting that in each group there are about 15-20 varieties. Let's consider some of them.
Domestic varieties of perennial delphinium
Among domestic hybrids, such a variety as Crane Memory deserves attention. This delphinium reaches a height of 160-180 cm. It is characterized by semi-double elegant flowers, purple with a black eye, collected in high inflorescences. This hybrid should be planted in well-lit areas that are shaded in the afternoon. The memory of cranes does not tolerate salinization of the soil, is distinguished by drought tolerance and winter hardiness.
Among the most interesting specimens of domestic selection and the delphinium variety of the perennial Pink Sunset. This herbaceous plant can grow up to 140 cm. Large flowers of a saturated pink color are collected in dense cylindrical brushes.
Another representative of domestic delphinium hybrids is the Lilac spiral flower. The following parameters are characteristic of it: height - about 180 cm, semi-double flowers with a diameter of 7 cm and blue-lilac color of the petals.
Delphiniums of the Elatum Group
One of the most beautiful representatives of this group are the delphiniums of Lady Belinda. They are characterized by such parameters: height - from 170 to 200 cm, the length of the inflorescence is usually about half a meter. The flowers of the delphinium of this variety are semi-double, very large, have a delightful white color.
One cannot ignore the Abgezang variety. The length of such a delphinium is about 170 cm. A bright cornflower color is characteristic of the flowers of this variety.
Another interesting representative of the group is the Nachtwahe delphinium, characterized by flowers of bluish-violet hues.
Belladonna Group Delphiniums
If you want to grow unusual flowers on your plot, pay attention to the representatives of this group. Among the varieties, one can distinguish Lamartin, which is characterized by dark blue semi-double flowers, Piccolo with delicate bluish petals, Arnold Beklin, whose petals differ in a rich blue color, and Merheim with delightful white corollas.
Seedling preparation
It is worth noting that the old bushes of this garden culture do not tolerate a long fall, rains and often die. Therefore, flower growers recommend rejuvenating plants or replacing them every 4-6 years. One way is growing from seeds. It allows you to get the first flowering after six months. We offer to talk about how to sow perennial delphinium.
You can do this at a very different time: in the fall, immediately after the seeds are collected, in the winter, when the soil is frozen. However, experienced gardeners recommend starting sowing at home in late February. To do this, you need to disinfect the seeds: they should be placed in a gauze bag for 20 minutes and immersed in a dark pink solution of potassium permanganate. Immediately after this, the seeds must be thoroughly rinsed and placed in an epin solution for a day. Literally 2 drops is enough for 100 ml of water.
The next step is the preparation of the soil mixture. Ideal composition: humus (you can replace it with compost), garden soil and peat - in equal parts. We recommend adding 0.5 parts of sand. The soil mixture must be steamed well in a water bath: this will destroy the spores of mushrooms and weed seeds. After this, it is necessary to fill the containers prepared for sowing with a wet mixture. Leave some ground to sprinkle the sown seeds.
Spread the seeds evenly over the surface of the soil. Sprinkle with earth above, the layer should not exceed 3 mm. Compact the soil slightly, otherwise the seeds will pop up at the first watering. After this, it is necessary to spray the crops with cold boiled water. Since the delphinium rises best in the dark, the container should be covered with a black film or opaque covering material. In late April, seedlings of perennial delphinium can be planted in a permanent place.
Delphinium landing: choosing a place
Experienced gardeners recommend planting this garden crop in warm sunny places. This plant is ideal for temperate climates, it develops best in the middle lane. In the southern regions of Russia, the delphinium can suffer from heat, so here it must be planted in places protected from the scorching sun, and watered on time. It is imperative that the plant is protected from the wind. Strong gusts can break tall and fragile peduncles and stems.
Dolphinium cultivation is possible both in mixborders and in separate groups. You can combine these flowers with perennials that bloom until the end of summer, which means they can decorate the delphinium after it fades. Gardeners say: delphiniums are extremely harmoniously combined with daisies, phlox, lupins and coreopsis.
Soil preparation
Perennial delphiniums - both undersized and high - can grow on any cultivated soil. However, gardeners recommend planting this crop in fertile loams, but acidic soils should be discarded. If the pH level is below 5, lime should be added to the soil: 50 g per square meter is required. Before planting, it is recommended to add rotted manure, horse or cow, to a depth of about 40 cm.
Delphinium landing
The first thing to do is prepare the pits. Their depth should be about half a meter, and a diameter of 40 centimeters. For planting tall varieties, the distance between the pits of 60-70 centimeters should be observed. At the bottom of each should be emptied humus (half a bucket), a couple of tablespoons of any complex fertilizer and a glass of ash, then all this must be mixed with the ground, make a small depression and place a seedling in it. The earth around must be compacted and well watered. Florists recommend for the first time covering each seedling with either a glass jar or a cut-off plastic bottle. As soon as the dolphiniums begin to grow actively, such a shelter should be removed.
Care Features
Growing and caring for the delphinium include watering, applying fertilizers, removing weeds and loosening the soil.
The first time you need to feed the dolphinium when the shoots reach a height of 10-15 cm. The best fertilizer in this period is a solution of cow manure: for 10 buckets of water you will need one bucket of organics. This amount is enough to fertilize 5 large bushes. Mandatory procedure - mulching flower beds. It should be carried out immediately after weeding and loosening. It is important to thin out the bushes in time: this should be done when the stems reach a 30-centimeter height. Florists recommend leaving no more than 3-5 stems on each bush. It is necessary to remove weak shoots located in the inner part of the bush. Usually they are broken off or cut off near the ground. Thanks to this pruning, the plant will avoid diseases.
When the delphinium grows to one and a half meters, next to each bush you need to carefully dig 3 support rods, the height of which will be 180 cm. To the supports, the stems of the plant need to be tied with ribbons or wide strips of fabric. The next tying is usually done when the flower grows to 100 cm. Each grower knows: during the season, the delphinium is able to “drink” about 60 liters of water. Therefore, every week it is necessary to pour about 2-3 buckets of water under each bush. After the earth dries slightly, it should be loosened to a depth of not more than 5 cm.
Winter preparations
When the plant has finished flowering and the leaves have dried, its stems should be pruned at a height of about 30 cm from the ground. The top of the hollow stems is recommended to be covered with clay. This will prevent moisture from entering the root neck, which means the plant will not rot. Almost all varieties of delphinium are characterized by increased frost resistance. If a cold and snowy winter is expected, flower beds with a delphinium should be covered with straw or spruce branches.
Reproduction of perennial delphinium
We have already talked about the propagation of this delightful flower with the help of seeds, we suggest discussing other ways to obtain a strong and healthy plant. Perhaps the easiest way is reproduction by dividing the bush. Plants 3-4 years old are ideal for this. The best time to dig up bushes is spring. Separation must be carried out when young leaves begin to grow. Determining the autumn dates is somewhat more difficult: during this period, it is necessary to separate the bushes of the delphiniums when the seeds begin to ripen in it, and the flowering has already been completed.
It is necessary to extract rhizomes very carefully, you should leave a large earthen lump. Then they must be broken or cut with a shovel or a large knife - always between young shoots or buds. You should have a split with at least one shoot, a sleeping bud and a bunch of roots. Please note: the resulting plants must be immediately planted in a permanent place. They will need enhanced care, in response to it they will bloom profusely already this year.