What Is the Delphinium Flower?

Physical Description

• Wild delphiniums are approximately 4 to 6 feet tall and produce a variety of flower colors such as blue, white, purple, pink and yellow. Blue is the most common color for delphiniums. In cultivation, the height of delphiniums range from 1 to 6 feet tall. Some shorter cultivars -- such as the "Snow White," "Connecticut Yankee" and "Laurin" -- grow between 1 to 3 feet tall. "Black Knight," "King Arthur" and "Blue Bird" cultivars grow up to 6 feet tall when mature. The delphinium's stem has an alternate leaf pattern and its flowers grow in clusters.

Cultivation

• When planting delphiniums in a garden, horticulturists should place these plants in locations where they will receive full sunlight. Delphiniums also require well-drained soil. Although it is not necessary, protecting delphiniums from strong winds is preferable. Delphiniums are able to grow in the United States Department of Agriculture Plant Hardiness Zones 3 to 7. These flowering plants are perennial, meaning they live from season to season. Delphiniums are herbaceous, meaning they wilt in the winter before regrowing in the spring. Since delphiniums are upright plants, horticulturist may need to use stakes to support the plants during their early growth.

Poison

• Although they are beautiful plants, all parts of delphinium are poisonous, according to Dr. Alice B. Russell of North Carolina State University's Department of Horticulture Science. Two of the principle poisons in delphiniums are alkaloid delphinine and ajacine. If someone consumes a delphinium, symptoms may include burning lips, intense vomiting, muscle spasms and a weak pulse. Eating delphinium plant parts may prove fatal to the consumer if they do not receive immediate medical attention.

Disease

• A delphinium is susceptible to several forms of disease, which can be cured with proper cultivation and pruning. A general rule of thumb for helping delphiniums move past disease is removing all their infected parts. Stem rot symptoms are yellowing leaves and a wilting plant. The best way to alleviate these systems is to provide better soil drainage. When a white coating appears on delphinium leaves, this is most likely powdery mildew. Along with removing the infected parts, cultivators should attempt to reduce humidity if the plant is indoors.