Delphinium elatum

‘Sunny Skies’

SUNNY SKIES DELPHINIUM

Delphinium elatum ‘Sunny Skies’
SUNNY SKIES DELPHINIUM

The name says it all with Delphinium elatum ‘Sunny Skies’.
Because it has spires of the purest sky blue colour.
With each flower adorned by a centre ruff of double petals and a white bee.

Spires of true sky blue

The flower spires of  Delphinium elatum ‘Sunny Skies’ are closely packed with blooms, standing strong and tall. It is a knockout sight in the garden.
The flowers are larger than usual Delphiniums.
While the stems are sturdier, stronger, more compact and weather hardy than earlier breeds.
And the plants are soundly perennial and long-lived, rather than fizzling out after a couple of seasons.

World beating new variety

Delphinium elatum ‘Sunny Skies’ has been bred in NZ by world renowned breeders, Terry and Janice Dowdeswell.
And the Dowdeswell’s Delphiniums are now conquering the world, beating the European flower breeders at their own game. Go little NZ.

Robust grower

Because the Dowdeswell Delphiniums cant be beaten for beauty as well as tall, vigorous, robust growth.
So there are no shrinking violets tolerated in the Dowdeswell’s breeding programme.

Heat tolerant Delphinium

Dowdeswell Delphiniums are also bred to be more heat tolerant, so they cope well in Australian gardens too.
Plus more tolerant of humidity and heat than normal Delphiniums, as well as cold tolerant.

Dowdeswell Delphiniums are longer blooming

The Dowdeswell family have also been 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
Then also giving a feed mid-summer to encourage even bigger and better autumn spires.

Superb cut flower & garden display

Delphinium elatum ‘Sunny Skies’ gives lovely cut flowers, as well as a spectacular garden display. And these are spires to brag about to all gardening friends at every opportunity.

Plant in a Full Sun to Part Shade garden position.
‘Sunny Skies’ 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.

Delphinium elatum ‘Sunny Skies’ 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 protect the newly emerging growth from snails in early spring.

Whopping 1.8m High flower spires 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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