Delphiniums Book

Knowing Delphiniums     9
Introducing Delphiniums     11
What is a Delphinium?     11
Flower Structure     11
Stems and Blooms     13
Roots     13
A Survey of Wild Delphiniums     15
Where Delphiniums Grow     15
Where Annual Larkspurs Grow     16
Diversity in Delphinium Species     16
Wild Delphiniums: Diversity in Seeds     17
Wild Delphiniums: Diversity Below Ground     18
Wild Delphiniums: Diversity in Leaves     20
Wild Delphiniums: Diversity in Flowers     24
The Poisonous Properties of Delphiniums     31
Delphiniums in Cultivation     33
Elatum Group     33
Elatum-group Delphiniums in Commerce     35
Named Delphinium Cultivars     36
Named Delphiniums with White Flowers     36
Named Delphiniums with Cream Flowers     39
Named Delphiniums with Violet Flowers     41
Named Delphiniums with Pastel Blue-Lavender Flowers     43
Named Delphiniums with Dusky-Pink Flowers     44
Named Delphiniums with Purple Flowers     47
Named Delphiniums with Multicoloured Flowers     48
Named Delphiniums with Blue Flowers     49
Elatum-group Seed Selections in Commerce     55
Belladonna Group     59
Grandiflorum Group     63
D. tatsienense Selections     64
Species and Species Hybrids     67
Delphiniums with Red Flowers     68
Delphiniums with Yellow Flowers     71
Breeding Delphiniums     74
The Basis of Delphinium Hybridization     74
Breeding Delphiniums with Cream Flowers     74
Desirable Characteristics for Garden Delphiniums     76
True-breeding Colour Lines     76
Breeding Delphiniums with Red Flowers     77
Growing Delphiniums     83
Delphiniums in the Garden     85
Plant Size     85
Planting Site Considerations     85
Delphiniums in Flowerbeds     86
Delphiniums in Containers     91
Delphiniums for Cutting     94
Cultivation of Delphiniums     96
Soil Requirements     96
Planting Delphiniums     96
Feeding and Watering the Plants     97
Thinning and Supporting the Stems     98
Maintenance During the Flowering Period      101
Autumn and Winter Care     101
Delphinium Propagation     102
Propagation by Division     102
Propagation by Taking Cuttings     103
Rooting Prepared Cuttings     105
Micropropagation     108
Propagation from Seed     110
Sowing your Seeds     110
Pricking out Seedlings     112
Growing Seedlings     114
Selecting Seedlings to Retain     115
Growing Delphiniums in Containers     119
Potting up the Plants     120
Feeding and Watering     120
Thinning and Supporting the Plants     121
Care after Flowering     123
Pests and Diseases     124
Slugs and Snails     124
Caterpillars     126
Other Insect Pests     127
Nematodes     128
Mammals     128
Mildew     129
Crown Rots and Related Disorders     130
Fasciation     132
Viral Diseases     132
Hybridizing Delphiniums     135
Growing Species     139
Some Easily Grown Species     139
Some More Challenging Species      142
D. semibarbatum     143
D. trolliifolium     144
D. variegatum     145
D. maackianum     146
D. hesperium, D. hansenii and D. parryi     146
D. recurvatum     148
D. californicum     150
Growing Annual Larkspurs     151
Appendices     152
Registration of Delphinium Names     152
Plant Breeders' Rights     152
Award of Garden Merit     153
The Delphinium Society     153
Index     154