Delphinium Laser Beam™

Delphinium Laser Beam™: Dark Spires With a Stiff Backbone

'Laser Beam' fires dark blue-purple florets straight up on stems so sturdy they could hold their own in a hockey scrum. Reblooming, unbending and very focused. TARGET ACQUIRED.

Plant Characteristics:

• Botanical Name: Delphinium hybrid 'Holtlabea812'
• Common Name: Larkspur, Delphinium
• Series: Bloomin' Easy®
• Height: 60–75 cm (24–30 in)
• Spread: 35–40 cm (14–16 in)
• Flowers: Dark blue-purple florets, 5–8 cm (2–3 in) across, on strong upright spikes
• Bloom Time: Early summer, with rebloom into early fall (June to September)
• Foliage: Green, deeply cut leaves forming an upright clump
• Features: Sturdy stems, reblooming, good for cutting

Where to Plant: Its compact height makes it easy to fit into the middle of a sunny border, a cottage garden or even a large container. The sturdy stems are good for cutting, so it earns a spot in a cutting bed too.

Companion Plants: Give Laser Beam™ a sunny bed with moist soil, where dark blue meets white, gold and magenta. Bergenia 'Bressingham White' opens white flowers at 30 to 35 cm in April and May. Rudbeckia Solar Sisters™ adds double yellow and orange blooms at 45 to 60 cm from June to October. Hibiscus 'Watermelon Ruffles' brings big magenta-pink blooms at 120 to 140 cm from July to September. Carex 'Gold Fountains' edges the front with gold-edged blades at 20 to 30 cm.

Plant Care: Plant in full sun in rich, well-drained soil that stays evenly moist. Water deeply in dry weather and avoid heavy, soggy ground. Feed in spring with compost or a balanced fertilizer. A spot sheltered from strong wind is still a good idea. When the first flush of flowers fades, cut the spent spikes back to the base. That encourages a second round of blooms later in the season. Cut the plant to the ground after a hard frost. Give it good air flow to reduce powdery mildew. Divide crowded clumps in spring every few years.

History: Garden delphiniums descend mainly from Delphinium elatum, a species native to the mountains of Europe and Asia, and the name comes from the Greek for dolphin, after the shape of the flower buds. Laser Beam™ is a recent introduction in the Bloomin' Easy® line, selected for sturdy stems and a compact habit.

Final Thoughts: Deer resistant, a bumblebee and hummingbird magnet and fantastic in a vase. Aim it at a sunny border and LIGHT UP THE NEIGHBOURHOOD.