Delphinium grandiflorum 'Blue Butterfly'
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- del-FIN-ee-um gran-dih-FLOR-um
- This plant has medium severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Blue Butterfly Larkspur is a cultivar with a compact habit and many branches that reaches up to 15" in height. It was bred to be more heat tolerant than other delphiniums. It has an abundance of showy ultramarine blue flowers that appear in the spring.
Plant it in small groups or mass it in the middle or back of a border. Fertilize often for optimum performance. Continued blooming or a second bloom is often achieved by removing its spent flowers. It will grow in full sun, but provide some shade in the afternoon.
The common name of Larkspur comes from the sepals, one of the five is spurred into a distinctive prong, resembling a spur. The shape of the flower bud that resembles a dolphin gives the genus its name, delphis meaning dolphin.
This short-lived perennial is typically grown as an annual or a biennial. It can typically live for 3 years.
This 'filler' plant makes a good choice for your 'spiller-thriller-filler' container.
Cut back in the late fall to prepare for the winter months.
A compact cultivar of delphiniums, 'Blue Butterfly' has ultramarine blue flowers that form on loose racemes. Although somewhat heat intolerant, 'Blue Butterfly, is more tolerant of heat than other delphiniums.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Snails and slugs can destroy this plant. Disease issues include crown rot, leaf spot, powdery mildew and blights.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Delphinium
- Species:
- grandiflorum
- Family:
- Ranunculaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Biennial
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Russia and China
- Wildlife Value:
- The flowers are attractive to bees, butterflies, as well as hummingbirds and bees.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Buffer
- Colorful
- Defines Paths
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Heat, more tolerant than other delphiniums.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Perennial
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Mounding
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Description:
- The fruits are not ornamentally significant.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Irregular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- asymmetrical petals
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Racemes of complex asymmetrical ultramarine, trumpet shaped blue flowers with five sepals. One of the sepals forms a spur, hence the common name larkspur.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Palmatifid
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The small leaves that resemble ferns are quite delicate.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Patio
- Slope/Bank
- Small Space
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Cutting Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Rabbits
- Problems:
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses