Larkspur for towering spires and cottage garden colour
Delphinium
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Delphinium
Few perennials create quite the same sense of height and drama as Delphinium plants. Their tall flower spikes rise above the border in early and midsummer, packed with blooms in shades of blue, violet, purple, pink and white. The strong vertical lines make them especially useful for drawing the eye through a planting scheme, while the softer colours and deeply divided foliage keep the overall effect elegant rather than formal. In classic cottage gardens they are almost indispensable, but delphiniums also work beautifully in more contemporary borders where their spires can punctuate looser planting.
Often referred to as larkspur, although that name is also used for related annual plants, garden delphiniums are hardy herbaceous perennials that prefer fertile, moisture-retentive soil and a sheltered position. Taller varieties may benefit from support as they develop, particularly in exposed gardens, but the reward is a spectacular display with real presence. Delphinium flowers are popular with bees and other pollinators, and the long stems are excellent for cutting, bringing the same architectural quality indoors.
The best Delphinium varieties for UK gardens can become true anchor plants in a border, returning each year to create height exactly where it is needed. Plant them behind lower perennials, repeat several through a mixed border for rhythm, or let one richly coloured variety act as a focal point among softer planting. With their unmistakable spires and remarkable range of blues in particular, delphiniums remain one of the most distinctive ways to give a summer garden scale, colour and a sense of occasion.
