Delphinium Highlander Sweet Sensation - Larkspur

Delphinium Highlander Sweet Sensation will seduce you with the beauty of its flowers, with multiple ranks of perfectly arranged petals, hiding shades of blue-mauve at the heart and enhanced on the outside by a whirl of deep blue-violet petals. The Highlander series Delphiniums are tough plants, selected in Scotland. They have a sturdy habit, producing strong stems that withstand the wind which are loaded with very double flowers in fascinating colours and excellent floribundity from June to October. Whether in borders or pots, they are excellent perennial plants for the garden, easier to grow than classic varieties, but they do need sun, in moist and fertile soil.

This recently obtained Delphinium Highlander bears a name that refers to the famous mountainous and wild region of Scotland. Belonging to the Ranunculaceae family, it is derived from Delphinium elatum, the tall larkspur, which is found in cool meadows at high altitudes throughout the Alps of Europe, as well as in Southern, Central and Eastern Europe, Siberia, Mongolia, and China. This plant has given rise, among others, to the famous "Pacific Giant" series.

'Sweet Sensation' is a sturdy herbaceous perennial plant, with a relatively short lifespan (4-5 years), but fast-growing. It forms a clump of highly dissected palmate, tender green leaves, reaching a height of 45-55 cm (18-22in), from which floral spikes emerge in summer, reaching a height of 70-75 cm (28-30in). Flowering begins in June and continues regularly until the first frost, provided that faded spikes are removed. It is loved by pollinators. The many flowers are formed by 45 to 58 small incurved petals, perfectly overlapping each other in multiple ranks. They are tightly packed on very strong stems that do not require staking. Their colour is subtle and nuanced, a blend of pastel blue-mauve in the centre, almost white at the heart, and deep violet-blue on the outer edge. The plant develops from a woody rootstock that plunges vertically into the soil.

The characteristic silhouette of Delphiniums adds volume, height, and charm to perennial plant borders, similar to hollyhocks which lack the lovely blue tones of larkspurs. They are good companions for moss or Gallic roses, creating charming and romantic scenes. You can also create a beautiful combination with echinaceas, mauve, white or pink paniculate phlox, and baby's breath Rosenschleier. This modest-sized variety can be supported by small flowering bushes or tall perennials such as Escallonia, dwarf buddleias, dwarf lilacs, peonies, shrubby mallow and perennial chrysanthemums. Its flowers hold well in bouquets.

Note: From March to September, the stems of our delphiniums are cut short to allow better branching of the crown and achieve optimal rooting. This also prevents the stems from breaking during transport.