Delphinium 'Mini Stars'

Delphinium 'Mini Stars': Short, Sturdy Spires That Laugh at Wind

A mixed bag of blue, purple, mauve, pink, lilac and cream, so every plant is a surprise party. 'Mini Stars' stays short enough to skip the staking. DELPHINIUM ROULETTE, AND EVERYBODY WINS.

Plant Characteristics:

• Botanical Name: Delphinium elatum hybrid
• Common Name: Larkspur, Dwarf Hybrid Bee Delphinium
• Height: 45–75 cm (1.5–2.5 ft)
• Spread: 30–45 cm (12–18 in)
• Flowers: Dense spires in a mix of blue, purple, mauve, pink, lilac and cream, some solid and some with a contrasting centre. It's a mixed strain, so colour varies from plant to plant.
• Bloom Time: Early summer, with rebloom later in summer if cut back (June to August)
• Foliage: Deeply lobed green leaves in a low clump
• Features: Rabbit resistant, good cut flower, short enough to skip staking

Where to Plant: Put it at the front or middle of a sunny border, where a full-size plant would block the view. It's a natural in cottage gardens and small yards, and it holds up well in windy spots. It likes cool summer nights, so gardens in Ottawa and Montreal tend to suit it well.

Companion Plants: Aquilegia Earlybird™ Blue White opens the season in May with blue and white columbines that echo the delphinium's colour at a smaller scale. Tuck Geum 'Koi' along the edge for orange flowers from May to September, a lively contrast to clear blue. Behind them, Malva sylvestris 'Zebrina' grows 60 to 120 cm tall and carries striped pink blooms from June to September. All three handle full sun or partial sun, just like this compact larkspur.

Plant Care: Plant in full sun to part sun, in rich, moist, well-drained soil. Work in compost at planting. Delphiniums dislike both baking-dry soil and soggy winter roots, so mulch to keep the roots cool and avoid low, wet spots. Water during dry spells and feed in spring. When the first spikes fade, cut them back to the leafy base to encourage a second round of flowers. Give it good air flow to keep powdery mildew down. Cut the foliage back in late fall. Delphiniums are not the longest-lived perennials, but a happy clump will carry on for several years. All parts are toxic if eaten, so keep it away from pets that like to graze.

History: 'Mini Stars' comes from the same New Zealand breeding program as the tall Dowdeswell delphiniums, bred by Terry and Katrina Dowdeswell, and was developed as a truly compact strain. Garden delphiniums descend largely from Delphinium elatum, a species of the mountains of Europe and Asia.

Final Thoughts: Deer and rabbits pass, while bees, butterflies and hummingbirds pile in. Buy three and see what you get. NO TWO ALIKE.