Delphinium

Delphinium Langdon's Orpheus

• Position: full sun
• Soil: fertile, well-drained soil
• Rate of growth: average
• Flowering period: June and July
• Hardiness: fully hardy
  
  A fantastic, vigourous delphinium whose towering spikes of purple flowers have iridiscent flecks of electric blue that catch the light, and white eyes. Plant in bold clumps to add a touch of magic to a cottage-garden scheme or towards the back of a well-drained, sunny border, where they will add height and bold splashes of colour. They make excellent cut flowers. Further flowering in the autumn may be encouraged by cutting back after flowering.
  
  
• Garden care: Protect young foliage against slug and snail damage in spring. Stake with bamboo canes in mid-spring, before the flowers appear. During the growing season, apply a balanced liquid fertiliser every 2-3 weeks and wearing gloves cut back the faded flower-stems to a flowering side-shoot to encourage repeat flowering. At the end of autumn cut back and compost the faded flower stems.