Delphinium Highlander Bolero - Larkspur

Delphinium Highlander Bolero, just like its siblings 'Flamenco', 'Cha Cha' and 'Sweet Sensation', is a stout bushy perennial, that does not require staking and produces many, very double flowers throughout the summer. This new delphinium produces dark-coloured flower spikes, loaded with large bright flowers, in very double, frilled, tender blue-mauve around a white-cream centre. Its flowers are remarkable in bouquets, and absolutely delightful in borders or containers.

Delphinium 'Highlander Bolero', recently obtained in Scotland, has a name that refers to the famous mountainous and wild region of the Highlands. Belonging to the buttercup family, it comes from the Delphinium elatum, the tall larkspur that is found in moist meadows, at high altitudes, in the Alps of Europe, and throughout Southern, Central and Eastern Europe, as far as Siberia, Mongolia and China. This plant has given rise, among others, to the famous 'Pacific Giant' series.

The 'Bolero' variety forms a solid herbaceous perennial plant, short-lived but with rapid growth. It forms a tuft of palmate, decorative and finely cut, tender green leaves, 45-55 cm (18-22in) high, from which flower spikes 70-80 cm (28-32in) tall emerge in summer. Flowering begins in June, and continues regularly until the first frost, provided that the faded spikes are removed, visited by pollinating insects. The full flowers are formed of 40 to 60 incurved petals, overlapping each other in several ranks. They are tightly packed on almost black stems which are sturdy against wind and rain. Their colour is rare and rich: the outermost petals are blue, those occupying the intermediate level are mauve, and those in the centre are white-cream. The plant develops from a woody rootstock that sinks into the soil. The above-ground vegetation disappears in winter.

The characteristic silhouette of Delphiniums always gives breadth, height and charm to perennial plant borders. They are good companions for roses, forming charming and romantic scenes. You can also create a beautiful combination with echinaceas, violet or pink perennial salvias (Salvia nemorosa), and grasses, or alliums in a more rustic spirit. This modest-sized variety can be supported by small flowering bushes or tall perennials: Escallonia, dwarf buddleias, dwarf lilacs, shrub peonies, shrub mallows, in a border. Its flowers hold well in bouquets.

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