Delphinium elatum

‘Mini Stars’

DWARF DOWDESWELL NZ DELPHINIUMS

Delphinium elatum ‘Mini Stars’
DWARF DOWDESWELL NZ DELPHINIUMS

Delphinium elatum ‘Mini Stars’ are an exciting new strain of DWARF Delphiniums.
A beautiful and downright useful new strain from the renowned NZ Dowdeswell Delphiniums breeding programme.

DWARF spires of FULL SIZE flowers  

‘Mini Stars’ make close packed spires of FULL SIZE, glorious Delphinium flowers, but borne on strong, shorter, stout, weather proof stems.
Blooms are large (same size as their tall siblings) – with double, semi-double and single flowers PACKED closely onto the dwarf spires.

Standing stout strong & wind resistant

Flower spires range from 45cm. to 75cm.
On strong, stout stems that don’t bowl over.
Each plant is also very well branched – so you get a succession of multiple spires on each plant.

Do not need staking

There is nothing flimsy about these beautiful ‘Mini Stars’.
Unlike their tall sisters – they do not generally need staking.

Ideal for pots, small gardens & exposed sights

So Delphinium elatum ‘Mini Stars’ are ideal for pot displays; on balconies and courtyards; in small gardens; or in more exposed and windy sites where their tall cousins would certainly be bowled over.

Mix of lovely colours

Delphinium elatum ‘Mini Stars’ come in a range of lovely, pure Delphinium colours – dark blue, sky blue, powder blues; pinks and rose; purples, lavender, lilac, cream and white.
It is pot luck and lots of fun.

Contrasting central “bees”

Some have contrasting central “bees” (the little knot of petals in the centre of each flower).
Central bees can be either black or white, or the same same colour as the flower petals.

Hardy NZ breeding

NZ Dowdeswell Delphiniums are soundly perennial and long-lived, rather than weak and tending to fizzle out after a couple of seasons.

World beating new Dowdeswell NZ variety

These wonderful Delphiniums were developed 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 have conquered the world, beating the European flower breeders at their own game. Go little NZ.

Robust growers

The Dowdeswell NZ Delphiniums have taken the world by storm – because they can’t be beaten for beauty combined with vigorous, robust growth and rude health.
There are no shrinking violets tolerated in the NZ breeding programme.

Heat tolerant Dowdeswell Delphinium

Dowdeswell NZ Delphiniums are also bred to be more heat tolerant, so they cope well in Australian gardens, and stand up to the summer heat much better than older varieties.

Enhanced tolerance to humidity

Plus they are more tolerant of summer humidity than normal Delphiniums, as well as being robustly cold tolerant too.
So the Dowdeswell and Hindmarsh families have covered everything we need in their breeding programme.

Dowdeswell Delphiniums are also longer blooming

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

Repeat blooming

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 continuing spires.

Superb cut flower & garden display

Delphinium elatum ‘Mini Stars’ gives impressive cut flowers, as well as a spectacular garden show.
The stems are quite long enough for normal vases.

Superior frost, heat & summer humidity

Plant in a Full Sun to Part Shade garden position.
‘Mini Stars’ are very frost hardy, as well as being more tolerant of heat and humidity than normal Delphiniums.

Rabbit & deer hate them

Rabbits and deer are extremely unlikely to ever graze a delphinium. They hate the taste. Joy.

Bees adore them

While our dear friends the bees just love the flower towers.
Delphiniums are especially useful for honey-bees and native butterflies.

Easy growing & low maintenance

So they are easy growing, low maintenance plants, and will repay spring and summer applications of fertilizer, compost and mulch with ever more prolific spires. Worth every effort.
And remember to protect the newly emerging growth from snails in early spring.

Much branched spires of 45 to 75cm. High  x 45cm Wide foliage clump.

SEED SOWING ADVICE: QUICK & EASY

Sow seeds in 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.

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

Now 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 at least 36 hours (in the fridge, not freezer).

Then each day check if the seeds have begun to sprout.
You will see a little white shoot 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 sieved 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 Dwarf NZ variety are scarce yet).

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