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Delphinium grandiflorum

Siberian Larkspur

Family RanunculaceaeGenus Delphinium

Deep blue-violet spurred flowers on thin stems among finely divided leaves
FlowerСвятослав ВласенкоCC BY 4.0
A hand-colored plate of blue flowers spotted crimson and green with long backward spurs, on a stem of very finely divided leaves
IllustrationSydenham EdwardsPublic domain

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
Annual, Herbaceous PerennialExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
perennialPlants of the World Online
Height
1-1.5 ft30-45 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
1-1.5 ft30-45 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
BlueExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
Spring, SummerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
Amur, Buryatiya, China North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast, Chita and elsewhereGBIF Backbone Taxonomy
Hardiness zones
3-7Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sunExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
Loam (Silt)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Neutral (6.0-8.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good DrainageExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

  • Siberian larkspur is much shorter and more compact than the familiar tall Delphinium elatum, and like many larkspurs it is poisonous. Its cultivars include 'Blue Butterfly' and 'Summer Stars'. Wikipedia: Delphinium grandiflorum

This source reports two treatments. Both are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1998

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 16, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on March 15, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 365 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

about 12 months from start to sowing. Then 21 days to germinate.

75% germination in 7–21 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Delphinium p. 28Public domain
Show the original text
Delphinium (Ranunculaceae). D. grandiflorum (Larkspur) germ. in 5-7 d at 70D using fresh seeds. Seeds DS 1 y germ. 70D(75% in 1-3 w), and seeds DS 2 y germ. 70D(7% in 4th w). A sample of hybrid seed DS 3 y was dead. >
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Delphinium p. 28. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1998

Difficulty Very high Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 9, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on March 8, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 365 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

about 12 months from start to sowing. Then 28 days to germinate.

7% germination in 28 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Delphinium p. 28Public domain
Show the original text
Delphinium (Ranunculaceae). D. grandiflorum (Larkspur) germ. in 5-7 d at 70D using fresh seeds. Seeds DS 1 y germ. 70D(75% in 1-3 w), and seeds DS 2 y germ. 70D(7% in 4th w). A sample of hybrid seed DS 3 y was dead. >
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Delphinium p. 28. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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