Delphinium elatum

‘Sweethearts’

SWEETHEARTS DOWDESWELL NZ DELPHINIUM

Delphinium elatum ‘Sweethearts’
SWEETHEARTS DOWDESWELL NZ DELPHINIUM

Delphinium elatum ‘Sweethearts’ is sweet and girly – a real charmer.

Pink blooms like old fashioned double roses, with creamy bees 

With soft pink flowers like old fashioned double roses, and creamy bees.
(The little knot of curly petals in the centre is called a “bee”).
And these large flowers are closely PACKED closely onto stout, sturdy, soaring tall stems.

Larger flouncier flowers

These voluptuous pink flowers are remarkably large, and come as frilly doubles or semi-doubles.
All double, frilly and flouncy with petals.

Soaring spires close packed with flowers

The stems stand strong, stout and tall, reaching 1.2 to 1.8m. (depending on food and conditions – they do like good feed).
But there is nothing flimsy about ‘Sweethearts’.

Sturdy strong long-lived spires

The stems of Dowdeswell NZ Delphiniums are sturdier, stronger, more compact and weather hardy than earlier breeds.
Plus the plants are soundly perennial and long-lived, rather than weak and tending to fizzle out after a couple of seasons.

World beating new Dowdeswell NZ variety

These wonderful Delphiniums were developed in NZ by world renowned breeders, Terry and Janice Dowdeswell, with the work now being carried on by Jason and Katrina.
The Dowdeswell Delphiniums have conquered the world, beating the European flower breeders at their own game. Go little NZ.

Robust growers & dazzling beauties

They can’t be beaten for voluptuous beauty; as well as tall, vigorous, robust growth.
There are no shrinking violets tolerated in the NZ breeding programme.

Heat tolerant Dowdeswell Delphinium

Dowdeswell NZ Delphiniums are also bred to be more heat tolerant – so they cope well in Australian gardens.
They also stand up to the summer heat much better than older varieties.
And are more tolerant of summer humidity than normal Delphiniums.
But are also robustly cold and frost tolerant.
So the Dowdeswell and Hindmarsh families have covered everything we need in their breeding programme.

Dowdeswell Delphiniums are also longer blooming

The Dowdeswell NZ Delphiniums have also bred for enhanced length of blooming season, way beyond the normal season of older Delphinium varieties.

And you can encourage even more rapid repeating blooms through summer – by shearing the spent flower stalk back to the base after initial flowering.
Then also give a feed mid-summer to encourage even bigger and better continuing spires.

Superb cut flower & garden display

Delphinium elatum ‘Sweethearts’ gives impressive cut flowers, as well as a spectacular garden show. So these are spires to brag about to gardening friends at every opportunity.

Superior frost, heat & humidity tolerance

Plant in a Full Sun to Part Shade garden position.
‘Sweethearts’ is very frost hardy, as well as being more tolerant of heat and humidity than normal Delphiniums.

Thrive in a wide range of soils

The Dowdeswell Delphiniums are also bred to be robust in a wide range of soils ; from sandy to clay based and all points in between; from acid to alkaline.
However they must be well drained and will rot if left sitting in boggy soil.
So they are easy growing, low maintenance plants.

Richly re-pay all feeding

But richly repay spring and summer applications of fertilizer, compost and mulch.
They are heavy feeders to make those stunning spires – but worth every effort.
And remember to protect the newly emerging growth from snails in early spring.

Much branched spires of 1.5-1.8m. High  x 45cm Wide foliage clump.

SEED SOWING ADVICE: QUICK & EASY

Sow seeds in autumn, winter or spring.

Delphinium seeds are easy and quick to germinate, even more so by using a special trick to convince them they have had a very fast winter.

Seed Sowing Tip: So first place seeds on wet coffee filter paper (or paper towel can be used, but coffee filters are a finer texture).
Then fold the coffee filter over so the seeds are enclosed between 2 wet sheets.

Now place the folded, wet coffee filter in a sealed plastic bag (a clip-lock bag is perfect).
And place the sealed plastic bag in fridge for about 36 hours (in the fridge, not freezer).

Then each day check if the seeds have begun to sprout.
You will see a little white shoot beginning to emerge.
Seeds may sprout as early as 3 days and usually take up to 5 days.

Once you see the first seeds sprouting – remove from fridge and filter paper and sow seeds in their punnet. They are easy to pick up off the coffee filter with tweezers.

Or you can just sow as normal

Or you can skip the step above and just sow as normal and just wait a little longer.

Sow the pre-sprouted seeds in a punnet on the surface of good quality seed raising mix.
And cover with 5mm of sieved mix or sandy grit.

Then keep consistently moist in a warm, well lit position, or on a heat mat.
Covering the punnet with a clear plastic cover will also help to maintain consistent moisture and prevent drying out.

Temperatures of 15-20°C approx. are best for rapid and optimum germination.

Seedlings emerge in approx. 30 days.
But do not discard the punnet, as some seeds may come later.

Seed Count: 5 seeds per pack approx. (Seeds of this special Dowdeswell NZ variety are scarce yet).

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