The popular delphinium grows - and blooms very magnificently - in numerous ornamental and cottage gardens. The perennial, up to two meters high, is a wonderful eye-catcher in a colorful perennial bed. Larkspur (lat. Delphinium) is, depending on the variety, perennial to just one or two years old, but can be easily propagated by seeds or vegetatively.
Is delphinium perennial or annual?
The delphinium (Delphinium) can be annual to perennial, depending on the variety. Belladonna varieties are perennial but not very long-lived (up to 5 years), while the tall-growing Elatum varieties can live 5 to 10 years. Pacific delphiniums usually only last for two to three years.
Lifespan depends on the variety
The specific lifespan of the individual delphiniums depends on the specific species and variety. While the wild forms of field and field delphiniums, including their garden forms, are usually only annual, the following applies to all other cultivated forms: the taller the perennial grows, the longer-lived it is. De facto this means:
- Delkspurs of the Belladonna varieties are perennial, but not very long-lived.
- Delphinium belladonna can live up to five years.
- However, the very tall Elatum varieties easily reach an age of at least five to ten years.
- The more sensitive Pacific delphiniums, on the other hand, usually do not live longer than two to three years.
Propagate delphiniums in good time
Knowing the lifespan of a delphinium encourages timely propagation of the perennial, which can be done either via seeds or vegetatively. The perennial varieties can not only be propagated by division, but also rejuvenated - in this way you can extend the lifespan of your plants. One- or two-year-old varieties, on the other hand, are easier to grow from seeds, which you can easily collect from the plant yourself.
Delphinium overwinters in the rhizome
All perennial delphiniums retreat into their rhizomes (i.e. into the main root) after pruning in autumn in order to overwinter there, protected from external weather influences. In the spring, the plant will sprout again, but you can lure it out of reserve with targeted fertilization and thus miss the right start-up boost. All you need to do is fertilize the delphinium in March with a good portion of mixed compost (€14.00 on Amazon) and horn shavings.
Pruning delphiniums in autumn
To make it easier for the delphinium to overwinter, cut the plant back to just above the ground after any autumn flowering. However, if parts of the plant are left in place, pathogens can nest and spread.
Tips & Tricks
In addition to seeds and division, larkspur can also be propagated via root cuttings, for which you select young shoots with a root piece in early summer.
