Delphinium Kleine Nachtmusik - Pied d'Alouette vivace, Dauphinelle

The Delphinium (Belladonna Group) ‘Kleine Nachtmusik’ is an early creation by Karl Foerster, prized for the depth of its colour and the lightness of its flowering. In early summer, its numerous violet flowers appear, as if suspended above a fine, deeply cut leafy mound. Wide open, they attract pollinating insects and provide cut flower arrangements that are less formal than those of the tall larkspurs. This hardy variety will express all its charm in herbaceous borders and among roses, with white or pink flowers.

This cultivar belongs to the family of the Ranunculaceae. It is a herbaceous perennial plant: its stump lives for several years, but its stems and foliage disappear during the winter before regrowing in spring. The Belladonna Group brings together hybrid Delphiniums derived mainly from lines of Delphinium elatum and D. grandiflorum. This German variety ‘Kleine Nachtmusik’ was raised by Karl Foerster and introduced in 1942. Its name translates as "Little Night Music". The plant forms an upright clump 80 to 100 cm tall and 40 to 50 cm wide. Several stems arise from the stump, branch in their upper part and bear loose clusters of flowers, with lateral floriferous branching. The medium green leaves are palmate and deeply cut into dentate lobes; they are present mainly at the base of the plant and on the lower part of the stems. Flowering takes place in June and July. Numerous single, cup-shaped flowers open along the flower spikes. Each measures about 4 cm in diameter and is formed of five sepals; the upper sepal extends backwards into a spur, which is the origin of the name larkspur. Their colour ranges between dark violet and violet-blue depending on the light. The open flowers are accessible to bees and other pollinating insects. Pruning carried out after the first flowering encourages the production of new stems and a second flowering in late summer or early autumn. The stump of this delphinium withstands harsh winters, down to –25 °C in well-drained soil. Soil that is too dry, insufficiently light exposure or young plants that are too closely spaced encourage the appearance of powdery mildew on delphiniums of the Belladonna Group. All parts are toxic if ingested.

Shorter than the tall Elatum delphiniums, this larkspur ‘Kleine Nachtmusik’ blends easily among perennial plants and bush roses. You can plant alongside it the Delphinium Belladonna ‘Moerheimii’, with white flowers, the pastel pink rose ‘Bonica’ , the Alchemilla mollis and the masterwort ‘Roma’. Their white, anise green and soft pink colours form a beautiful combination with its violet flowers. Delphiniums also provide excellent cut flowers, to be picked as soon as the first buds open.

Note: from March to September, the stems of our delphiniums are pruned short to encourage better branching of the stump and to obtain optimal root growth. This pruning also prevents the stems from breaking during transport.