delphinium £5.99
Position: full sunSoil: fertile, well-drained soilRate of growth: averageFlowering period: June and JulyHardiness: fully hardyDense spires of semi-double, deep blue flowers with black eyes appear June and July on tall stems with deeply cut, mid-green leaves. These towering delphiniums are shorter lived than many other varieties and look fantastic when grown as annuals or biennials in a cottage-garden scheme. Alternatively use them towards the back of a well-drained, sunny border, where they will add height and bold splashes of colour. As cut flowers, they last longer than most delphiniums.Garden care: Protect young foliage against slug and snail damage in spring. Stake with bamboo canes in mid-spring, before the flowers appear. During the growing season, apply a balanced liquid fertiliser every 2-3 weeks and wearing gloves cut back the faded flower-stems to a flowering side-shoot to encourage repeat flowering. At the end of autumn cut back and compost the faded flower-stems.