Delphinium

Delphinium Walton Gemstone

• Position: full sun
• Soil: fertile, well-drained soil
• Rate of growth: average
• Flowering period: June and July
• Flower colour: very pale lilac
• Hardiness: fully hardy
  
  This towering delphinium has semi-double, white flowers with a pale lavender flush, a white eye and dark violet veins on the back of the petals. The flowers appear in June and July and form impressive upright spires which look fantastic planted in bold clumps as part of a cottage-garden scheme or towards the back of a well-drained, sunny border, where they will add height and lightness. The flowers last for around six weeks, but you can often get a second flush of flowers later in the summer if you cut the flowered stems back as soon as they have finished.
  
  
• Garden care: For best resultschoose an open spot away from taller plants and stake with bamboo canes as they start to shoot upwards in mid-spring. Protect young foliage against slug and snail damage in spring. 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.