Delphinium Galahad seeds - Larkspur

Delphinium Pacific Giants 'Galahad' is a tall perennial larkspur for lovers of opulent borders and cut flowers. Its majestic spikes of pure white form veritable candles above a well-furnished clump of leaves. From the famous Pacific Giants series, it offers dense, regular flower stems, highly prized for flower arrangements. Sown in fertile, moist soil, in full sun, it quickly rewards the gardener with generous flowering, often followed by a repeat bloom in late summer.

Delphinium 'Galahad' belongs to the Ranunculaceae family and behaves as a short-lived herbaceous perennial. The plant forms a compact clump from a system of thick roots, sensitive to excess water and waterlogged soils. The deciduous rosette of foliage appears in spring. It consists of large, medium green, palmately lobed leaves, deeply cut into triangular lobes. From the crown, erect, hollow but robust stems rise, reaching 1.50 to 1.80m in height, which are best staked as soon as growth begins.
The inflorescences are long, dense spikes, carried well above the foliage. The numerous semi-double to double flowers measure 5 to 7cm in diameter. The petals pile up into full corollas, of a very luminous white, enhanced by a small central "eye" slightly greenish or cream, sometimes darker depending on the seed lines. Flowering occurs from June to July, with a possible repeat bloom in late summer, if the stems are cut back just after the first wave of flowers. Pollination is by insects, notably bees and bumblebees, attracted by the nectar contained in the floral spur.
The whole plant is toxic if ingested; it is best handled with gloves, especially during pruning and staking.

A bit of history: the Pacific Giants series is one of the most famous delphinium lines of the 20th century: developed in California by Frank Reinelt, then distributed and improved by the Benary seed house, it popularised these tall larkspurs named after characters from the Round Table – 'Galahad', 'King Arthur', 'Guinevere', 'Percival'… 'Galahad' has also received the Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society, a guarantee of real ornamental value and good reliability in cultivation.

In the garden, place Delphinium Pacific Giants 'Galahad' at the back of the border. It can be planted in groups of three or five to form a column of light behind lower perennials. It is an ideal companion for English roses in cream or pale pink tones such as 'Desdemona'. In a cottage garden, combine it with Foxglove 'Dalmatian Purple', the carmine red spikes of Lupin 'Mon Château' ('My Castle') and the mauve clouds of Phlox paniculata 'Blue Paradise'. Together, they create very floriferous borders from early summer until the end of the season and provide an abundance of blooms for flower arrangements.