Butterfly Blend Delphinium is a compact, frost-hardy cultivar of Delphinium grandiflorum that brings jewel-toned spires of flowers to gardens in zones 3 through 7. These charming plants reach just 12 to 16 inches tall, making them perfect for borders, containers, and small spaces where standard delphiniums would overwhelm. Hardy enough to survive winters in cold climates, they're equally at home in milder regions where they can be sown directly into the garden in late summer for spring blooms.
Partial Sun
Moderate
3-7
16in H x ?in W
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Moderate
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Compact growth and cold tolerance make Butterfly Blend a gateway delphinium for gardeners who thought these fussy aristocrats were beyond reach. Starting from seed is straightforward, whether you sow indoors six to eight weeks before your last frost or direct sow outside once soil can be worked. The plants thrive in full sun to partial shade with moderate water and neutral soil, asking for little once established.
Butterfly Blend Delphinium is grown as an ornamental flower, prized for its vertical accent in garden beds and borders. Its compact stature suits container gardening, window boxes, and small garden schemes where taller delphinium varieties would be impractical. The spikes of blue flowers attract pollinators and add color from early to mid-summer.
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Sow seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your average last frost date. Maintain soil temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit for reliable germination. Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged, and provide bright light once seedlings emerge.
Harden off transplants gradually over 7 to 10 days before moving them outdoors. Plant after the danger of frost has passed, spacing them 10 to 12 inches apart. In mild climates, you can transplant earlier to allow the plants to establish before summer heat arrives.
In areas with short growing seasons, direct sow 1 to 2 weeks after your average last frost date. In mild climates, you can sow as late as 2 months before your average first frost date to establish plants for spring blooms. Sow thinly and keep soil moist until seedlings are established.
Deadhead faded flower spikes to extend the blooming season and encourage bushier growth. If plants become leggy or overgrown, you can cut them back by one-third in midsummer to stimulate a second flush of flowers.
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