Delphinium care
Delphinium is a spire of small flowers running up a tall stem — vertical drama in a bouquet that would otherwise sit in the round. The blues are the most prized; the whites are quietly architectural.
Season
May–October
Vase life
Medium
Sourcing
Direct from growers
Difficulty
Easy
How to care for them
Re-cut at a sharp angle. Place in a tall vase — delphinium is a height flower, and a short vase fights what the stem is doing. Cool clean water, no additives needed.
Refresh the water every two days. Expect some petal shed — delphinium drops finished florets along the stem as new ones open further up. Sweep around the vase rather than fighting it.
If a stem droops at the top, the stem has air-blocked. Re-cut higher up the stem at a sharp angle, refresh the water, return to a cool spot. Usually recovers.
Common questions
A medium display — several days, with new florets opening up the stem as older ones at the base fade. The progression is part of the look. Every order is covered by our Stem freshness promise.
Delphinium drops finished florets along the stem as new ones open higher up — it is normal behaviour. Sweep the table rather than worrying about it. If the whole stem is shedding fast, the room is too warm or the water has spoiled.
Yes — delphinium is toxic to cats, dogs, and horses if eaten. All parts of the plant contain alkaloids that can cause weakness, drooling, and in larger doses more serious effects. Keep out of reach of pets that graze.
Larkspur is a closely related annual; delphinium is the perennial cousin and is what we send as a cut flower. They look similar but delphinium is generally taller, denser, and has a more architectural spire.
They open in sequence from the bottom up, not the other way. If the top florets are tight, give the stem more time — they will open in turn. If the bottom is fading before the top opens, the room is too warm.
Mostly blues — from pale sky to deep navy — plus white, pale pink, and occasional purple. The deep blues are the most distinctive and the colour most people associate with the flower.
Pairs beautifully with
