Delphinium cultivars in production today
The most common delphiniums in commercial production are Delphinium elatum and Pacific hybrid varieties known for their long spiky stems and beautiful two-foot long flower stems. These mainly seed propagated plants are available through garden retailers.
A few very interesting hybrids are available from tissue culture with rare and unusual flower colors. Also, with new breeding, “bush” type delphiniums are coming to the market from crosses between Delphinium Beladonna, Bellamosum, Grandilflorum and Cardinale hybrids.
In the Delphinium elatum hybrids, the best known varieties are the New Zealand Hybrids with strong colors and medium sized plants. Some older and newer varieties are available from both seed and plants: Pagans Purple, Royal Aspiration, New Millennium Stars, Blushing Brides, Dasante Blue, Candle, Colbalt Dreams and many more.
Delphinium Pacific Hybrid varieties are slightly taller than New Millennium varieties, but very similar in growing habit and colors. Pacific Hybrids are also referred to as Pacific Giant hybrids. The most popular varieties are Black Knight, Galahad, Blue Jay, Blue Bird, and King Arthur.
The Delphinium Guardian, Aurora and Magic Fountain series also offer great colors and very controlled growth; this new breeding is beginning to replace some of the older elatum hybrids on the market. Blue purple and lavender are the most popular colors in this series.
There are three interesting and unusual Delphiniums originating from Tissue Culture coming from Holland offering very distinctive and spectacular looks with some exciting color breakthroughs: Red Caroline, Princess Caroline and Delft Blue.
New grandiflorum, cardinale, and nudicaule hybrids offer a bouquet of flowers instead of one large flower. Varieties of these include Diamonds Blue, Summer Nights, Summer Stars, Summer Morning, and Summer Clouds.
Click here to read the full Delphinium factsheet
For more information
National Garden Bureau
Diane Blazek
Executive Director
