Sometimes a plant does well for reasons that are a complete mystery!

I grow low growing delphiniums myself (normally blue butterfly) and I always add a ton of sand and compost into my clay soil. Normally I get 3 years or so before the plant disappears.

Delphiniums are quite hardy (larkspur is really an annual form - not the same plant) but they do tend to be rather short-lived in the garden and require a bit more fussing than most perennials.

They dislike heat and dryness and heavy soils. Well-amended, fertile, loose and fast draining soils are ideal, as is a mild, even damp, summer climate. That's why you find delphs populating the PNW or the UK :-) Generally, they only last a couple/three seasons, but good care, plenty of water during the growing season and annual applications of a good organic mulch (like compost)can extend their life expectancy. Yes, they can be propagated by basal cuttings in early spring or by seed. Seed sown early indoors should bloom the first year.

They are beloved by slugs so be sure to bait for these pests.

Why don't you harvest some of the seeds from your parent's delphinium? Just scatter them in place in the Fall and they should come up in Spring. I am in 2b and can grow them...they come back every year and multiply! I have them in different areas of the garden, from partial shade and moist, to full sun and dry. I even have a patch that self seeded between a stone path and the fence.

Wow, thanks for the great info gardengal and Donna. Always learning from this site and the great people on it. I was under the impression they didnt come back true from seed. But I have a perfect bed to throw some seeds in and see what happens. I will have to talk them into letting the seeds mature though. Think they usually chop it down after it blooms and get a second weaker bloom later in the year. I pay attention to landscaping in my area and never see anyone else growing them. But I always see them for sale and gave up years ago trying to get them to grow. Thanks again for all the great info!

They do not come true from seed, unless it is a seed strain, then they are similar, but not identical. And no, delphiniums are not short -lived by definition.It is a superstition. Some are , some are not. Some people in some families die young, in other families live up to 100 years. I have written about it so many times so I do not want to repeat myself, otherwise people will think I'm senile. Do a little search.

Here is a picture of 10 years old Delphinium, 50+ florets .

{{gwi:236563}}

And no, delphiniums are not short -lived by definition.
It is a superstition.

This is by no means a fact but only your opinion and the fact that you may have had some exceptional results. Delphinium elatum group and most hybrids, like the Pacific Giant strain and the New Millenium strain, are reported by virtually any reference (and even by their wholesale growers) to be short-lived perennials, as are most of the parent species that are bred into the mix. 2-3 years in the garden is typical, but as with anything else, ideal growing condition can prolong life. In some warm climate areas they are even grown as annuals, being replaced every season.
To give someone new to these plants the mistaken impression that ALL have the ability to be long-lived garden additions is doing them a disservice.

Au contraire, discouraging them by giving them inaccurate and wrong information is far greater disservice, because you may cause them refrain from trying growing them , thus experience great beauty. It is exactly what I wrote repeatedly: Pacific Giant strain is short- lived, but there are other options about which I supplied information in great numbers. Besides , it is not only I alone in the whole world who has exceptional results. Using referencess which only supply ancient,very limited and inaccurate information, does not do service to anybody . Many books and sites repeat automatically what has been written before, without ever even trying to check if it is true.

What I wrote is first hand experience, I do not do anything special apart from using the right plants. IF you do not believe me, you can try to read some English catalogues or translate German sites, which will provide you with more accurate information.

Addition to my previous posting:

Besides, I have never claimed that ALL plants are long-lived. I was actually very specific in my previous postings about Delphiniums with which ones one can expect good results.

I have no idea what variety is in my garden. All I know is that they have come back every year for many years. I have no idea if they are self sown plants or the originals...I get blossoms every year.

If a person was very particular about getting a certain colour or cultivar, I guess there's no point in saving seeds. But if you just want to try them out, I don't see why you couldn't scatter a few saved seeds. Sometimes those nice purchased hybrids seeds don't do nearly as well as those that are passed from one gardener to the next.

It's funny how some plants are easier to adapt in some gardens than in others. I have a very hard time growing lupins and tall bearded irises and yet my delphiniums flourish year after year.

Here is a fragment from Sarastro Stauden, one of the most famous European nurseries from Austria(link below)

Quote

Delphinium - Rittersporn
"Der blaue Schatz der G�rten", die Staude des Altmeister Karl Foerster! Mit den Rittersporn besitzen wir wichtige Leitstauden, die zur Bl�tezeit eine Szenerie im Garten v�llig beherrschen k�nnen. N�hrstoffreicher Gartenboden bei nicht zu engem Stand in voller Sonne h�lt diese stolzen Stauden gesund und vital. Nach der Bl�te ca. 20 cm �ber der Erde abschneiden, dann remontiert jeder Rittersporn, d.h. er bl�ht ein zweites Mal. Sch�n sind immer kleinere Gruppen, die mit M�dchenaugen, Rosen, aber auch graubl�ttrigen Stauden vereint, ein wirkungsvolles Bild ergeben. Im Gegensatz zu den kurzlebigen Pacific-Hybriden kultivieren wir ausschlie�lich Sorten, die auch in leichten B�den wie der "M�rkischen Streusandb�chse" rund um Berlin zuverl�ssig dauerhaft sind

Google translate:

Delphinium - Delphinium
"The Treasure of the blue gardens", the grand old man of the bush Karl Foerster! The larkspur, we have important Leitstauden that can be used for a scene in the garden of flowering time control completely. Nutrient-rich garden soil is not too tight balance in full sun perennials maintains this proud and vital life. After flowering, cut about 20 cm above the ground, then reassembled each larkspur, ie it blooms a second time Schoenberg ever smaller groups, united with the girl's eyes, roses, perennials graubl�ttrigen but also a powerful image are shown. In contrast to the short-lived Pacific hybrids we grow only varieties that even in light soils such as the "M�rkische box of sand" around Berlin are reliable, durable'

Here is a link that might be useful: Delphiniums are durable plants

This thread got me thinking.

I haven't tried delphiniums in eons. I guess I succumbed to the widespread rants about how short lived and difficult these are. I figured why waste my time.

However

I can remember my grandmother's huge stands of delphiniums which persisted from year to year to year. I don't remember her complaining about how short-lived they were. If they were difficult or short lived, she never would have grown them. She was frugal to say the least. In fact, the town I grew up in (zone 3 MN), delphiniums were in all the grandma gardens. They were like peonies or lily of the valley or phlox - everyone had them.

Kevin

A quote from one of the most famous Delphinium breeders, Ken Harbutt:

Given the popularity of delphiniums and the number of varieties available, it's surprising how difficult it is to get hold of them. Rougham Hall Nurseries, a family-run firm near Bury St Edmunds, should be top of any delphinium-lover's list: it holds one of the country's only two National Collections of the plant, featuring between 170 and 180 varieties - many of which are unavailable elsewhere.

"We can never grow enough of them," Ken Harbutt tells me, "because gardeners love them and they're always in short supply. Only two or three nurseries grow good, long-lived delphiniums. But most of the ones you see at the garden centre are short-lived, seed-raised Pacific hybrids - an inferior plant altogether."

Here is a link that might be useful: Words of famous Delphinium Breeder

With trepidation I jump into this discussion. Delphiniums really prefer colder climates, and are supposed to be spectacular in Scandinavia. Zone 6 is probably too hot here for good Delphiniums, though there are always exceptions. Of course they would do well in zones 2,3,and 4.

Lacyveil, it is Germany who has spectacular Delphiniums. And they are in zone 7 and 8 for the most part. I do not know other people here in Denmark who grow good Delphiniums. The knowledge of average gardener here, as far as the Delphiniums are concerned, is not very high to put it gently.

I am going to jump in here as I find that my delphs, which were only the so-called inferior seed raised strains, have been returning every year despite being grown in sandy, well drained soil. What happens is that the size of the plants decline, as does the girth of individual racemes (or spikes or whatever the correct term is). Mine now only stand at around 4feet, never need staking and return for another go round in August.
I think it is always hard to generalise or be dogmatic about particular plants since garden circumstances and expectations of gardeners are so massively varied.
By the way, I have been enjoying a rather nice yellow delph (Zallill or something like) for a couple of seasons but this really is short-lived, I think, as was the red nudicaule variety I had a few seasons ago.
Rougham Hall nurseries are local to me, along with Harveys garden plants so I have avoided temptation from the expensive cutting raised Blackmore and Langdon strains.

I was under the impression from reading an article some years ago not coming true from seed on Delphiniums meant they would bloom a gray color. Wouldnt really care what color they were except gray...lol...as long as they were hardy. I checked out wieslaw59 link and wish that grower was in the USA. Along with researching some old posts that mostly said what strains to stay away from. Was wondering if anyone in the USA close to my zone has luck with Delphiniums and happens to know a grower in the USA of a hardy strain for my zone? Seems in my area they only sell short lived ones or maybe its just to hot here for them. I will try my parents seeds no matter what. Worse that could happen is they dont grow or they are gray and I pull them...lol.

Hydrangeasnohio, try to buy seeds here:

http://b-and-t-world-seeds.com/

Just type Delphinium elatum Foerster's hybrids in the field 'Botanical name' If you're quick, you can still make it to sow and grow until the end of June.

I grow my delphs from seed, it's a lot cheaper than buying plants. I winter sow them, which is super easy. I never do cuttings because growing them from seed is so easy. They like the cold for germination, so winter sowing here in zone 5 works great. Delphs do like to be fed, and well drained soil. As for larkspur, if you grown them once you'll never have to plant them again, they reseed so well that the seedlings come up every year by the dozens! My garden is loaded with them, and the butterflies love them. Although I think the delphs are prettier, larkspurs are less fussy. Both beautiful plants, I always like to add some blue to my garden, and delphs are perfect for that blue color. My larkspurs tend to be in the lavender/purple shades, but maybe that is due to them all being reseeds. I can't even remmeber what the original colors I planted were, they've all been reseeds for years.

Boy good thing I didn't know Delph's were supposed to be short lived, or I might not have planted mine 10 years ago. And yes they are still going strong, back reliably every year. These are grown in MN zone 3b, clay soil, full sun and only watered when I occasionally remember. And yes some of them are the pacific hybrids!

Jennypat, our conditions sound very similar, as do our delphs. I have good news for you...mine have been here for nearly 20 years. And yes, they are the "dreaded" pacific hybrids. I'm curious what your normal summer temps are....

Mytime, I will explain it to you by comparing to people: in some families some people can carry a recessive gene/s for a deadly disease. If they meet a partner with the same gene , many of their children can SHOW the disease. But a few(it there are many) can be lucky to not to get the gene, neither from the mother nor from the father. They will stay 'CLEAN'. Perhaps your plants' genotype accumulated more 'clean genes' for longer life. I hope I have made myself clear.

Summer temps here average in the 80's, we occasionally get into the 90's, and maybe once a year over 100. Of course this is between June and August, once September hits it goes down from there. We have beautiful summers! Except for the mosquito's of course.

Way back in the mists of time the OP asked if Delphiniums could be grown from cuttings. Yes they can. The link has a video telling you how.

Here is a link that might be useful: Delphiniums from cuttings.

I live in southwest Ks and have delph Bellamosa in my yard that is over 20 years old. It seeds down, and if I can save them from the rabbits, I scatter them all about several gardens on this block. Back in the 30's and 40's, my Dad grew them for a greenhouse, for funeral displays. He was Swiss and could grow anything as I remember so well, even tho I wasen't that old then. I miss him so much, especially when I have a gardening question.

I live in southwest Ks and have delph Bellamosa in my yard that is over 20 years old. It seeds down, and if I can save them from the rabbits, I scatter them all about several gardens on this block. Back in the 30's and 40's, my Dad grew them for a greenhouse, for funeral displays. He was Swiss and could grow anything as I remember so well, even tho I wasen't that old then. I miss him so much, especially when I have a gardening question.

Apparently I forgot to hit the second button to post, so I'll say it again...
Thanks for the link, Flora. I enjoyed the little video.