Larkspur Delphinium 'Celebration'

☠ Toxic to humans

🐾 Toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Not edible

‍🌱 Hard-care

ABOUT

Delphinium 'Celebration' is a captivating flowering plant known for its striking appearance. It showcases tall, sturdy spikes adorned with semi-double to double florets that exhibit a vibrant mix of pink, purple, and white shades. The petals can sometimes be fringed or have a lighter or different hued bee, which is the central part of the flower that often contrasts in color. The lush, green foliage of 'Celebration' forms a bushy clump at the base of the plant, with deeply cut leaves that provide an attractive texture in the garden. This particular variety of delphinium is celebrated for its bountiful blooms and its ability to bring a dramatic burst of color to any outdoor space. Its gorgeous towers of flowers are often favored in cottage garden settings as well as in formal flower arrangements.

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Family
  Ranunculaceae
- Synonyms
  Larkspur, Dwarf Delphinium, Candle Delphinium
- Common names
  Delphinium elatum 'Celebration'.
Toxicity
- To humans
  Delphinium, including Delphinium 'Celebration', contains various alkaloids that are toxic to humans. Ingesting any part of the plant can lead to poisoning, with symptoms that include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and muscle weakness. In severe cases, it can cause cardiac complications, paralysis, and respiratory failure, which can be potentially fatal.
- To pets
  Delphinium is toxic to pets as well, and consuming any part of the plant can result in symptoms similar to those in humans. These include gastrointestinal upset, such as drooling, vomiting, and diarrhea, as well as neurological symptoms like muscle tremors and potentially seizures. Severe cases can lead to cardiac problems and respiratory distress, which may be life-threatening.
Characteristics
- Life cycle
  Perennials
- Foliage type
  Deciduous
- Color of leaves
  Green
- Flower color
  Blue
- Height
  5 feet (1.5 meters)
- Spread
  2 feet (0.6 meters)
- Plant type
  Herb
- Hardiness zones
  3
- Native area
  Europe

Benefits

General Benefits
- Aesthetic Appeal: Delphinium 'Celebration' adds a striking element to gardens with its tall spikes of densely packed flowers in vibrant colors.
- Attracts Pollinators: The blooms are attractive to bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, which can help pollinate other plants in the garden.
- Vertical Interest: The plant's height can provide vertical interest in the garden, acting as a backdrop for shorter plants or as a structural element in flower beds.
- Cottage Garden Style: It is a classic choice for a cottage garden look, contributing to a lush, informal planting style.
- Cut Flowers: The blooms make excellent cut flowers, with their long stems and showy flowers, and are ideal for bouquets and floral arrangements.
- Variety of Colors: Delphinium 'Celebration' comes in a range of colors, allowing gardeners to choose hues that complement their existing garden design.
- Seasonal Color: They provide color in garden spaces, typically blooming in late spring to early summer, with a possible second flowering in late summer or early fall if spent blossoms are removed.
- Cold Hardy: Delphiniums are generally cold-hardy plants, making them suitable for gardens in cooler climates.
Medical Properties
This plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying Qualities
This plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses
- Floral Arrangements: Due to its striking spikes of colorful flowers, Delphinium is often used in fresh cut flower arrangements and provides a tall backdrop that enhances the overall design.
- Garden Borders: With its tall growth habit and vibrant flowers, Delphinium is ideal for creating dramatic back borders in garden landscapes.
- Themes Gardens: Given its bold blue flowers, Delphinium can be a standout addition to a blue-themed garden or one focused on cool colors.
- Wildlife Attractor: It can serve as a source of nectar for butterflies and hummingbirds, encouraging these pollinators to visit a garden.
- Photography Prop: The stunning visuals of Delphinium blooms make them popular subjects for garden and floral photography.
- Decoration: Dried Delphinium stems can be used in decorative wreaths or as part of dried floral displays for long-lasting decoration.
- Event Theming: For weddings or other events, Delphinium can contribute to creating themes, such as "rustic country" or "garden chic" due to their natural elegance and height.
- Educational Tool: Delphiniums can be used in horticultural education to teach about plant growth habits, pollination, and flower structure.
- Performance Art: Incorporating Delphinium flowers in performance art can provide visual interest and thematic resonance, depending on the piece.
- Culinary Presentation: Though not edible, the flowers can be used as a non-toxic garnish to add color and elegance to plates in high-end culinary presentations.

Interesting Facts

Feng Shui
The Delphinium is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign Compitability
The Delphinium is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism
- Prosperity: The Delphinium, commonly known as Larkspur, often symbolizes prosperity due to its tall, spike-like blooms that reach towards the sky, representing growth and success.
- Protection: In folklore, Larkspur was thought to ward off evil spirits and negative energies, making it a symbol of protection.
- Open heart: The openness of the Larkspur's flowers can symbolize an open heart, one that is open to love and positive emotions.
- Ardent attachment: Giving someone a Larkspur can indicate a strong bond of love or affection, as it's often associated with a feeling of intense attachment.
- New opportunities: The growth pattern of Larkspur signifies new opportunities and reaching for one's goals, making it a symbol of ambition and striving for success.
- Lightness and levity: The airy quality of the Larkspur's tall stems and delicate flowers can evoke a feeling of lightness and humor.

💧

Every 1-2 weeks

Water

☀️

2500 - 10000 Lux

Light

💦️

Humidity

🪴

Every 2-3 years

Repotting

🌱️

Spring-Early Summer

Propogation

✂️️

As needed

Pruning

Water
Larkspur requires regular watering to maintain moist, but not soggy, soil. It's best to water once or twice a week, providing about one inch of water each time. During hotter and drier periods, increase the frequency to ensure the plant stays hydrated. Water at the base of the plant to avoid wetting the foliage, which can lead to fungal diseases. It’s essential to adjust your watering schedule depending on rainfall, aiming for a total of approximately one gallon per week.
Light
Larkspurs thrive in full sun, with at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. The best spot for a larkspur is an area that receives morning light and some protection from the intense sun in the afternoon, especially in hotter climates. Too much shade can lead to weak growth and fewer blooms.
Temperature
Larkspurs perform best in cooler climates, with ideal temperature conditions ranging between 50°F and 75°F. They can survive minimum temperatures down to 40°F, but may experience stress at higher temperatures above 80°F. Sustained heat can significantly affect their growth and flowering potential.
Pruning
Pruning larkspur helps promote a bushier growth and encourage more blooms. Deadhead spent flowers regularly to prolong blooming. After the first flush of flowers fades, cut back the flower stalks by half to encourage a second bloom. The best time for pruning is immediately after the first flowering period.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
Larkspur 'Celebration' prefers well-draining soil rich in organic matter with a pH range of 6.0 to 7.5. A mixture of loam, peat moss or compost, and a bit of sand for improved drainage makes an ideal soil mix for this plant.
Repotting
Larkspur 'Celebration' generally does not need frequent repotting and can be repotted every 2-3 years or when it outgrows its current pot.
Humidity & Misting
Larkspur 'Celebration' thrives with moderate humidity levels, avoiding overly dry or extremely humid environments.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Provide bright indirect light, moderate watering, and good air circulation.
- Outdoor
  Full sun, shelter from wind, consistently moist soil.
- Hardiness zone
  3-7 USDA
Life cycle
Larkspur 'Celebration' starts its life cycle as a seed, which, when planted in well-draining soil and given the appropriate conditions of sunlight and moisture, germinates and sprouts. The seedling grows into a vegetative state, developing a rosette of basal leaves and then a tall flowering stalk with deeply lobed leaves. As it reaches maturity, the larkspur 'Celebration' produces tall spikes of densely packed flowers in varying shades of blue, purple, or white, usually during late spring to early summer. After pollination, often by bees and butterflies attracted by the showy flowers, it sets seed in small, dry follicles that can be harvested once they turn brown and start to open. The plant may undergo a period of dormancy after flowering, particularly in hot summer climates, before beginning a new growth cycle. If the conditions are not suitable for seed germination, the plant can also propagate through basal cuttings or division to continue its life cycle.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Spring-Early Summer
- Propogation: Delphinium 'Celebration', commonly known as larkspur, is often propagated through seed sowing. The best time to sow larkspur seeds is in late winter to early spring, when temperatures can be maintained between 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit (18 to 24 degrees Celsius). The seeds should be spread on the surface of a well-drained seed starting mix and lightly covered with soil. Keeping the soil moist but not waterlogged is critical for germination, which may take 2 to 3 weeks. Once the seedlings develop true leaves, they can be transplanted to individual pots and gradually acclimatized to outdoor conditions before planting in the garden. Using seed propagation ensures genetic variation, which can lead to unique and vigorous plants.