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Daylily 'Primal Scream'
$13.95 ea
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Davidia involucrata 'Sonoma'
$89.95 ea
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Daphne x transatlantica 'Summer Ice'
$22.95 ea
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Daphne susannae 'Lawrence Crocker'
$24.95 ea
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Daphne odora 'Zuiko Nishiki'
$34.95 ea
Delphinium elatum 'Blue Lace'
Longer-lived than older varieties, and good powdery mildew resistance!
These petal-packed flowers are jammed onto sturdy stalks, simply radiating bright color. Their intense shade of sky-blue is difficult to find elsewhere in the garden, and if you look closely you'll see hints of lavender-pink, especially around the center of the bloom. Very striking! They begin in early summer and, if cut back promptly after bloom, will reappear at summer's end or in early fall.
The plant is greatly improved too, with sturdy stems that need no staking and large foliage that stands out even when 'Blue Lace' is out of bloom. Resistant to deer and rabbits, this variety is also quite mildew-resistant if given full sun and a little breathing room in the garden. Butterflies and hummingbirds flock to its blooms, so give it a place of prominence and enjoy those two seasons of bloom!
'Blue Lace' is not a maintenance-free perennial, but it just needs a few essentials to bloom and grow its best for years. First, give it basic (alkaline) soil. Second, prepare the soil with lots of rich organic matter, and keep the compost coming all season. Third, cut back the first flush of blooms quickly to stimulate rebloom. --And that's all it takes for this treasure to feel at home in the sunny to lightly shaded garden!
Blue Lace reaches 5 to 6 feet tall and 2 feet wide. Do not crowd plants in the garden; space at least 2 feet apart. Zones 3-7.
| Genus | Delphinium |
| Species | elatum |
| Variety | 'Blue Lace' |
| Bloom Season | Early Summer - Late Summer |
| Habit | Upright |
| Zone | 3 - 7 |
| Plant Height | 5 ft - 6 ft |
| Plant Width | 24 in |
| Bloom Size | 5 in - 6 in |
| Item Form | 1-Quart |
| Additional Characteristics | Butterfly Lovers, Double Blooms, Flower, Hummingbird Lovers, Repeat Bloomer |
| Light Requirements | Full Sun, Part Shade |
| Moisture Requirements | Moist, well-drained |
| Resistance | Cold Hardy, Deer Resistance, Powdery Mildew |
| Soil Tolerance | Normal, loamy |
| Uses | Border, Containers, Cut Flowers, Everlastings |
| Restrictions | CAN, HI, PR |
- Butterflies like a lot of sunlight, so locate your garden in a sunny area.
- If you live in a windy location, plant your butterfly-attracting plants near a building, fence, or hedge to protect them.
- Plant a variety of nectar-rich plants, as well as shrubs and evergreens for shelter.
- Since many butterflies and native flowering plants have co-evolved, try to put in some that are native to your area. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildlife Center provides lists of plants native to states and regions.
- Certain colors are particularly attracting to butterflies – red, yellow, pink, purple, or orange blooms that are clustered or flat-topped, with a short flower tubes are especially attractive to adult butterflies.
- Avoid using pesticides, especially around nectar-producing plants.
- Provide a shallow source of water – try a birdbath with pebbles lining the bowl.
- Place a rock in a sunny spot for butterfly basking and resting.
- Create a "puddling area" by digging a shallow hole filled with compost or manure where rainwater will collect and release essential salts and minerals.
- If you want butterflies to breed in your garden, put in some caterpillar food plants, such as parsley, milkweeds, asters, thistles, violets, clover, grasses, and Queen Anne’s Lace.
- Since butterflies need nectar throughout the entire adult phase of their lives, try to create a design that will allow for a continuous bloom – when one stops blooming, another starts.
