Delphinium - varieties and varieties

Delphinium is a beautiful herbaceous plant, the second name of which is larkspur. This annual plant has deservedly fully gained fame and prevalence among our gardeners, due to the fact that it can grow remarkably in our difficult and different climates, is unusually beautiful and is endowed with the existence of numerous varieties and varieties. This magnificent and beautiful plant can easily become a decoration for absolutely any site and garden.

Delphinium features

In order to grow a tall delphinium, you need to use the necessary skills and be aware of the features of this flower, as well as its care features. First of all, this flower is quite sensitive to gusty winds, prefers sufficient sunlight and absolutely cannot tolerate stagnant water and wetlands. If all the conditions for timely and proper care are met, this flower will delight you with its beautiful and delightful flowering already in the first days of the summer period, and then for the second time at the very beginning of the autumn season. Delphinium is a member of the buttercup family, which has about 500 varieties. Mostly gardeners grow hybrid plants. It is believed that this plant got its name due to the similarity of the bud with the head of a dolphin. There is also a second assumption about obtaining such a name, according to which a young man from Ancient Greece made a sculpture of his beloved girl, and subsequently revived her. For this, the gods turned him into a dolphin, who gave his beloved a beautiful bouquet on the very seashore. And its second name - larkspur, the plant received due to its healing properties, because this flower is able to reduce the healing time of wounds and various injuries.

The characteristics of this plant include:

• The foliage has a cut type, as well as a three-part, five- and seven-part form.
• Outlines of a round look.
• Sometimes you can see the foliage of an openwork look.
• The border of the leaves can be jagged or even.
• Plant height ranges from 4 centimeters to 2 meters.
• The root system is quite developed, powerful and sturdy.
• The flowering of this plant is five-leafed, in the form of a bowl, on top there is an appendage that looks like a funnel - a spur.
• The inflorescences are on long peduncles and have the shape of a pyramid.
• The flowers are of various colors, such as pink, blue, purple, lilac and white, and can also be two-colored.
• The varieties have a double and semi-double structure.

Plant varieties

There are three main types of delphinium:

• High delphinium. This species can reach three meters in height. It has fleecy branches and a fairly rich green foliage. The flowering of this species is cyst-like and dense, has an intense blue color.
• Large-flowered delphinium. An annual that can reach a height of 80 centimeters. It differs in the downy stem with vertical branching. The leaves of this species are triple. And flowering occurs in large inflorescences, consisting of flowers and having a brush shape. The flowering period begins in July. The flowers have a blue or blue tint.
  
• Field delphinium. It is characterized as an annual plant capable of growing up to two meters in height. The flowering period begins in the middle of the summer season and ends in September. The flowers are pyramid-shaped, have a standard or double structure and shades such as white, pink, lilac and blue.

They began to breed this plant for the first time in the 19th century, trying to cross the large-flowered delphinium and the tall delphinium. This led to the creation of the first hybrid - Barlow, as well as the Belladonna and Formosum species. After that, other hybrid varieties with different color gamut began to actively form. Nowadays, there are about 800 different shades of these colors, with different diameters and shapes of the border.

Hybrids

There are a huge number of varieties and subspecies of this flower, quite diverse, that absolutely anyone can find for themselves exactly the one that he personally needs. One of the first bred Ajax hybrids has a fairly wide application, and on its basis a large number of new hybrid varieties have been bred. Here are the most common and beloved hybrid subspecies of this flower in our country: Astolat, Ajax, Black Knight, Galahat, Red Giant, Magic Fountain, Princess Caroline, King Arthur, Crystal Delight, Highlander blueberry pie.

The basis for the creation of hybrid varieties was formed by three main types. Now these varieties are subdivided into several distinct groups. Consider them:

New Zealand

A fairly young group that appeared several decades ago. The varieties of this group are distinguished by their unpretentiousness to the climatic conditions of growth, they survive frost well, and have a long flowering period. That is why they have earned a fairly wide popularity and distribution among our gardeners. The varieties of this group just look great in gardens and have a number of distinctive features:

• They are quite high in size, they can grow up to two meters.
• Flowers are endowed with a double or semi-double structure.
• It has long peduncles that can reach a length of 80 centimeters.
• Inflorescences are racemose, large enough, consist of 4-6 rows of petals.
• The flowers are approximately 9 centimeters in diameter.
• They have a variety of colors, for example, snow-white, blue, lilac.

The most common varieties of this type include:

•  Blue Lace terry... Has won love and admiration for its beautiful pale blue hue of flowers.
• Royal Aspirations. Possesses a rich, bright cornflower-blue shade of flowers.
• Green Twist. It is considered one of the most gorgeous and chic flowers of a snow-white color.
• Sunny Skies. Has a pale blue color.
• Misty Mauves. The flowers of this variety have a double structure and a gorgeous lilac shade.
• Deep Swethearts. They differ in their flowers of bright pink, slightly darkish color, endowed with a striped or purely white eye.
• Morning Lights. Combined two shades - lilac and bluish.
• Dusky Maiden. The owner of a fairly light pink shade of flowers.

Perennial Pacific

The main distinguishing feature of this group is the straight stem, which can extend to a height of 180 centimeters. The bloom is quite large and chic in the form of candles, which have a semi-double structure. Flowers can reach a diameter of about 7 centimeters. These are perennials, although they do not live long, about 5 years. They cope fairly well with our weather conditions, do not require sufficient and proper care. Among the most resistant varieties that feel great in our climatic zone are:

• Black Knight. The branches of this variety can reach a height of 150 centimeters, its peduncle is quite dense and high, it can reach 70 centimeters. The flowers have a rich purple hue with a black eye. Has a fairly early onset of the flowering period.
• Blue Jay. This variety can grow up to a height of 170 centimeters. The flowers have a bright blue color and are formed on elongated peduncles. It is considered one of the most widespread and favorite varieties in our country.
• Blue Bird. This plant may well grow to a height of 170 centimeters. The flowering period begins in the middle of the summer season.The inflorescences have a beautiful blue tint and a pure white eye.
• Galahad. This plant can grow up to 180 centimeters in height. The flowers are cone-shaped, white and not quite dense in structure. The main difference is the early onset of the flowering period.
• Ginever. The stem of this plant can reach two meters in height. The flowers on the stem are quite large in size and color, combining lilac and pink, semi-double at the edges. The flowering period is quite late. It is considered one of the tallest subspecies in this group.
• Camellard. The flowers of this variety have a wonderful bluish lavender color. It is considered one of the most beautiful subspecies.
• King Arthur. The height of the stems of this plant can reach 180 centimeters. The flowers have a semi-double structure and purple color. It is considered a late flowering variety.
• Pacific. It is considered one of the most widespread and well-known varieties in our country, which can reach a height of more than 150 centimeters. The flowers have a diameter of 8 centimeters, collected in fairly large cluster-like inflorescences. The variety can perfectly endure both severe frosts and drought periods. It is actively used in landscape design and floristry.

Marfinsky

The Russian group of subspecies, which were bred specifically for our climatic conditions, that is why they are considered the most common and beloved in Russia. Their decorative characteristics are at the same level as foreign ones. Distinctive features of this group are:

• Quite neat plants, reaching a height of 180 centimeters.
• Inflorescences have the shape of a pyramid, rather large, semi-double structure.
• They have a wide variety of color palettes.

In this group, the following varieties can be distinguished:

• Spring snow. The flowers are quite large in size and pure white.
• Blue lace. Gorgeous flowers with a delicate blue color.
• Daughter of winter. The height of the stems of this variety reaches 160 centimeters and has white flowers.
• The pledge of youth. Plant height approximately 160 centimeters, inflorescences consist of approximately 70 flowers of pink color.
• Caravan. The plant has a rich vanilla scent and delicately lavender flowers.
• Summer morning. The variety is endowed with rather large flowers, which are collected in inflorescences (about 90 flowers), lilac color and pink tinge.
• Morpheus. The inflorescences consist of 60 purple flowers.

Belladonna

The main difference between the varieties from this group is the large flowers that have the shape of a lip, broom-shaped inflorescences, branched. This group includes such varieties as:

• Casablanca. It is considered one of the most favorite varieties among flower growers. It has snow-white flowers with a slight yellow tint in the center. Perfect for cut flower compositions.
• Arnold Becklin. The flowers are endowed with a dark blue color.
• Berghimmel. A fairly tall variety, reaching two meters. The flowers are blue in color and with a snow-white eye in the middle.
• Capri. Flowers have a light and delicate blue color.
• Merheim. The plant grows up to 120 centimeters in height and is endowed with snow-white flowers.
• Volkerfried. The flowers have a heavenly blue tint with an eye in the center of a light or black shade. The flowers are quite large.

Scottish

Perennials with excellent double or super double structure. The inflorescences are quite dense, approximately 60 petals. The plant of this variety has a height of up to 150 centimeters, and its peduncles stretch up to 80 centimeters. Honeycomb is distinguished by its unpretentiousness and stability, as well as a variety of shades. The most beloved and widespread varieties of this group are: Morning Sunrise, Blueberry Pie, Moon Light, Sweet Sensation, Cristal Delight, Deepest Pink.

Delphinium in landscape design

These plants have recently been widely used in the form of decoration for various fences and fences, as well as around the entire perimeter of the garden. The flower arrangements of this plant look very great with other members of the flora. Landscape designers use these plants in compositions of different colors of flowers, which makes it possible to very effectively decorate any garden. Also, these plants will look quite delightful in a group planting with lower plants. Moreover, the delphinium would be best placed in the middle of the composition. These plants have an excellent appearance against the background of the lawn, and if you plant these flowers along the paths, then you will be pleasantly surprised by the beautiful view when walking.