Delphinium tricorne

RHS Plant Profile
three-spurred dwarf larkspur

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Other common names

staggerweed

Herbaceous Perennial
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A species of multi-stemmed herbaceous perennial to around 35cm in height, with finely cut, palm-shaped green foliage. Loose clusters of spurred, blue to dark purple flowers appear for a short period from March to May. Great for woodland gardens or damp, shady areas, although it still prefers the soil to be well-drained

Position

Partial shade

Soil Types

Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H5

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Ranunculaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Clump forming, Columnar upright
Potentially harmful
Humans/Pets: Harmful if eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. For further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
Genus
Delphinium can be annuals, biennials or perennials, with palmately lobed basal leaves and showy bowl-shaped flowers in spikes, racemes or panicles
Name Status
Unresolved

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in fertile, moist but well-drained soil in part shade. Protect from hot summer sun. Will struggle on acidic soils but tolerates being in areas prone to flooding, as long as the soil is reasonably well-drained

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown in spring, or propagate by division of established clumps. Can be tricky to grow as it prefers quite specific conditions

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Patio and container plants
  • Cut flowers
  • Flower borders and beds
  • Wall side borders

Pruning

deadhead main stem after flowering to encourage side shoots to flower. Cut back to ground level in autumn

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids, slugs, snails, leaf miners and caterpillars, including swift moth caterpillar

Diseases

May be susceptible to delphinium black blotch, grey moulds, crown rot (on mature plants) and occasionally Cucumber mosaic virus. Powdery mildews may be a problem in periods of drought and on sites with poor air flow