Delphinium elatum

‘Pagan Purples’

PAGAN PURPLES DOWDESWELL DELPHINIUM

Delphinium elatum ‘Pagan Purples’
PAGAN PURPLES DOWDESWELL DELPHINIUM

Delphinium elatum ‘Pagan Purples’ is royal in stature and richly coloured. 

Deepest purple & royal blue 

With a blend of deep purple and royal blue shades within each flouncy flower.
The central rows of petals are deep purple while the back rows are usually dark royal-blue.  Making the double and semi-double flowers look especially flouncy and frilly .

Large flouncy flowers

These beautifully coloured flowers are remarkably large, and each contrasted with either a dark or white central “bee”. (The little knot of curly petals in the centre is called a “bee”).

Tall strong spires close packed with double & semi-double flowers

The flower spires of  Delphinium elatum ‘Pagan Purples’ are closely packed with large blooms, and stand strong and tall.

Sturdy strong spires

The stems of Dowdeswell Delphiniums are sturdier, stronger, more compact and weather hardy than earlier breeds.
Plus the plants are soundly perennial and long-lived, rather than weak and tending to fizzle out after a couple of seasons.

World beating new Dowdeswell variety

Delphinium elatum ‘Pagan Purples’ has been bred in NZ by world renowned breeders, Terry and Janice Dowdeswell, with the work now being carried on by Jason and Katrina.
The Dowdeswell’s Delphiniums are now conquering the world, beating the European flower breeders at their own game. Go little NZ.

Robust growers

The Dowdeswell Delphiniums are taking the world by storm because they can’t be beaten for beauty as well as tall, vigorous, robust growth.
There are no shrinking violets tolerated in the Dowdeswell’s breeding programme.

Heat tolerant Dowdeswell Delphinium

Dowdeswell Delphiniums are also bred to be more heat tolerant, so they cope well in Australian gardens, and stand up to summer heat much better than older varieties.
Plus they are more tolerant of humidity than normal Delphiniums, as well as being robustly cold tolerant.
So the Dowdeswell family have covered everything in their breeding programme.

Dowdeswell Delphiniums are also longer blooming

The Dowdeswell family have also bred for enhanced length of blooming season, way beyond the normal season of older Delphinium varieties.

And you can encourage even more rapid repeat blooms through summer, by shearing the spent flower stalk back to the base after initial flowering.
Then also giving a feed mid-summer to encourage even bigger and better autumn spires.

Superb cut flower & garden display

Delphinium elatum ‘Pagan Purples’ gives impressive cut flowers, as well as a spectacular garden display. So these are spires to brag about to all gardening friends at every opportunity.

Plant in a Full Sun to Part Shade garden position.
‘Pagan Purples’ is very frost hardy, as well as being more heat and humidity tolerant than normal Delphiniums.
So it is an easy growing, low maintenance plant, and will repay spring and summer applications of fertilizer, compost and mulch with ever more stunning spires. Worth every effort.

Stronger flower stems

Delphinium elatum ‘Pagan Purples’ is Dowdeswell bred to have stronger, self supporting stems.
Though in windy sites it pays to provide some support, such as a frame of sticks for the spires to grow through.
And remember to protect the newly emerging growth from snails in early spring.

Much branched spires of 1.2-1.5m. High  x 45cm Wide foliage clump.

SEED SOWING ADVICE: QUICK & EASY

Sow autumn, winter or spring.

Delphinium seeds are easy and quick to germinate, even more so by using a special trick to convince them they have had a very fast winter.

So first place seeds on wet coffee filter paper (or paper towel can be used, but coffee filters are a finer texture). Fold the coffee filter over so the seeds are enclosed between 2 wet sheets.

Then place the folded, wet coffee filter in a sealed plastic bag (a clip-lock bag is perfect).
And place the sealed plastic bag in fridge for about 36 hours (in the fridge, not freezer).

Then each day check if the seeds have begun to sprout.
You will see a little white root beginning to emerge.
Seeds may sprout as early as 3 days and usually take up to 5 days.

Once you see the first seeds sprouting – remove from fridge and filter paper and sow seeds in their punnet. They are easy to pick up off the coffee filter with tweezers.

Or you can just sow as normal

Or you can skip the step above and just sow as normal and just wait a little longer.

Sow the pre-sprouted seeds in a punnet on the surface of good quality seed raising mix.
And cover with 5mm of mix or sandy grit.

Then keep consistently moist in a warm, well lit position, or on a heat mat.
Covering the punnet with a clear plastic cover will also help to maintain consistent moisture and prevent drying out.

Temperatures of 15-20°C approx. are best for rapid and optimum germination.

Seedlings emerge in approx. 30 days.
But do not discard the punnet, as some seeds may come later.

Seed Count: 5 seeds per pack approx. (Seeds of this special Dowdeswell variety are scarce yet).

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