October, 1917 
WISCONSIN HORTICULTURE 
21 
DELPHINIUMS. 
William Toole, Sr. 
Among decorative plants for 
outdoor growth there is probably 
no class more broadly useful than 
are the Delphiniums. Botanical- 
ly the name includes a number of 
species with hybrids and crosses 
of both annuals and perennials. 
Custom is leading to apply the 
name Larkspur to the annuals 
and Delphinium to the perennials, 
although they are all Larkspurs 
and all Delphiniums. 
In this article I chose to con- 
sider the perennial section. We 
may, as a class, place them at the 
head of all the blue flowers, 
whether for decorative planting 
or cut flowers. Their coloring is 
not confined to blue, although 
that shade predominates. Among 
blues probably the Belladonna 
class is the generally favorite. 
The combination of light blue and 
white takes the lead, but some 
lovely shades of bright and dark 
blues of this class are being de- 
veloped. If the fading flowers 
are removed the Belladonnas give 
a succession of bloom more quick- 
ly than others. There is a grace- 
fid inclination of the sprays to 
droop, which adds to their at- 
tractions. 
The older Delphiniums, Formosa 
and Formosa Coelestina include 
nearly the same range of shades 
and markings as the Belladonnas. 
They are a little more rigid in out- 
line of plant, yet we want them 
for their sturdy beauty. Be- 
cause of old time associations we 
still like to see the old fashioned 
Bee Larkspur with its brown cen- 
ter, the resemblance of a bee 
crawling into a flower. 
Among the newer creations 
classed as hybrids, especially 
among the doubles, we are given 
some wonderful combinations of 
shades, including blues and pur- 
ples with changeable rose with or 
without white cerVrs and hues 
which are indescribable. 
From seed we are not yet able 
eign growers send out named va- 
rieties which should be all alike 
in each variety but increase by 
division is too slow so choice se- 
lections of such of the varieties 
are scarce and after the first 
to secure pure whites of this class, 
although there is a white variety 
to be had which continues scarce, 
because it must be increased by 
division. 
For length of spike of bloom 
and size of flowers some of the 
newer kinds both double and sin- 
gle are truly marvelous. The for- 
blooming those nearest to type 
are chosen to represent the kind 
named. 
If seeds are sown early most of 
the kinds will produce flowers the 
same season. 
There is a blending of pleasure 
and disappointment in raising 
(Continued on page 29) 
Delphiniums: “If grown in the open w th plenty of room for each plant they 
seldom go down. 
