How I Finally Grew Delphiniums Successfully in the UK

Delphiniums are not considered impossible to grow in the UK, but for a casual gardener (ie lazy) they can prove to be something of a challenge. So, I’m more than happy to have had my second year of beautiful delphinium spikes in the garden.  However, it was a bit of a slog getting to this point!  As you can see from the picture above, this year they are already in full bloom.  OK, some members of the RHS might sniff a little, but I am very happy with their iridescent blueness – a very cheery addition to the garden.  However, not every year has been as happy as this…  

The pictures are all from May 2026.

The first year I tried to grow delphiniums, I bought them from seed and followed all of the instructions to the letter.  The seedlings poked up, had a look around and in a fit of flowery nihilism, decided it wasn’t worth the bother hanging around.  I think perhaps I tried to look after them too much - maybe I overwatered them or just simply put them off existing by my overexcitement at their presence. The second year, I bought some bare roots -and they came up.  Unfortunately, a storm came and flattened them.  They didn't try again. That was that for another year.

So, the year after, I went for bare roots again.  I planted them in a sheltered but sunny (ish) position and hoped for the best. They came up and then I discovered something.  Snails just adore chomping on delphinium and, boy oh boy, they musting have come galloping over the hill (snails do gallop, apparently) in multitudes, because before long my delphiniums were stumpy remnants. Then they just shrivelled up.

OK, I wasn’t going to give up that easily.  The next year (last year), I popped some bare roots in a planter and up they came.  I used peat-free compost from a local garden centre. The final touch was copper tape around the top of the (circular) planter.  I think I planted them a little too late, but they came up, grew and flowered.  A bit. The copper tape seemed to keep the various gastropods at a distance (unless they couldn’t be bothered climbing) and that was that.  I did take some pictures but they weren’t too impressive.

This year, however, when March came, I noticed some shoots coming up in the planter and, remembering what delphinium leaves look like, I was immediately excited for a second year of these beautiful flowers.  Sure enough, here they are.  I love the sky blue colour that this variety has and the local pollinators (especially butterflies and bumblebees) seem to love them – apparently it’s down to their long tongues that can get to the nectar that the flowers produce).

Now, I don’t care for my plants as much as I should (time, still working too hard for money).  I don’t weed around them as much as they should (and I will use the same excuse for that).  And I don’t supplement their growth with any nice organic stuff that would perform that trick.  So, the success is largely down to the plants and all the hard work they put it (because I didn’t put in much).  So, even if these aren’t exactly the most impressive delphiniums on the planet ever, allow me a moment of pride (before they no doubt get blown down by Hurricane Percy – or whatever the next one will be called).

Till then, I'm happy. And there's always next year...