ANNUAL DELPHINIUM

Annual Delphinium

Consolida ajacis

The annual delphiniums are cool weather annuals, closely related to the delphiniums, and sometimes included in that genus as Delphinium consolida. These plants bloom in spring and summer with blue, white, pink or lilac florets on spikes 2-3 ft (0.6-0.9 m) tall. They are shorter, less spectacular plants than the true delphiniums, which are towering plants. The leaves are bright green and finely dissected. The flowering spike may be single or branched. The individual florets are about two inches across, and bear an upward curving spur at the rear of the corolla - hence the common name.