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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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'

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

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."

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.