13 Beautiful Blue Delphinium Varieties to Plant This Season

From the cottage garden to the cutting garden, one plant makes the jump with such ease and grace that it stands out above the rest—and not just because it’s so tall! Delphiniums are stunning, floriferous perennials that add linear interest and plenty of color to your beds. 

Delphiniums are cool-weather lovers. They prefer cool, moist weather and won’t thrive in hot, dry conditions. If you’re able to grow them in your climate, you won’t regret it for a moment. These gorgeous plants are always impressive and eye-catching.

Though they are short-lived, delphiniums produce a lot of flowers during their lifespan. Some will bloom all summer if you cut them back regularly, while others can have two separate blooms in spring and late summer.

While their flowers come in an array of shades, including white, red, pink, and purple, the most famous shade for these beauties is blue. Here are some stunning delphinium varieties in soothing blue hue. 

Pacific Giants Blend Delphinium Seeds

• Award-Winning Heirloom Variety
• Tall, Elegant Spires in Vibrant Colors
• Great Background Plant for Gardens
• Eye-Catching Cut Flower with Mildew Resistance
• Toxic if Ingested – Handle with Care

View at Botanicalinterests.com

Butterfly Blend Delphinium Seeds

• Heat-Tolerant Dwarf Delphiniums
• Ideal for Small Spaces and Cottage Gardens
• First-Year Blooming Prolific Plants
• Perfect for Containers and Windy Areas
• Native to China

View at Botanicalinterests.com

‘Diamonds Blue’

	botanical name Delphinium grandiflorum ‘Diamonds Blue’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 16”-24”
	hardiness zones 3-9

‘Diamonds Blue’ is a compact delphinium variety that works well in cutting beds and mid-ground spaces. It’s a reliable germinator from seeds and blooms in its first year. Pollinators adore these flowers, especially bees, which see ultraviolet light. They’ll bring plenty of butterflies to the yard as well. 

Because of its more compact size, this cultivar rarely needs staking and is sturdier, tolerating inclement weather well. The finely cut foliage is lovely even when no flowers are present. The blooms are single-petal forms and deep cobalt in color.

‘Faust’

	botanical name Delphinium elatum ‘Faust’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 5’-6’
	hardiness zones 3-7

Award-winning ‘Faust’ towers over the garden at up to six feet tall. It’s a candle variety with tall, distinctive inflorescence and tightly packed blossoms. The blossoms are double-petal in form and have a rich blue-violet hue. 

‘Faust’ blooms for several weeks in early summer. Because of its height, this Award of Garden Merit winner requires staking. Plant it in a spot with shelter from strong winds or heavy rain, as these can knock it down easily. These fluffy flower heads are incredible for cut arrangements. 

‘Blue Nile’

	botanical name Delphinium elatum ‘Blue Nile’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 5’-6’
	hardiness zones 3-7

Another towering variety, this one, stands among the taller varieties with a looser structure and a more delicate appearance. It is a member of the Blackmore and Langdon series, which has been in cultivation since 1901. The brilliant blooms are royal blue and single with a white eye.

These plants prefer slightly alkaline soil, so amend with lime if needed. Mix in plenty of organic material for nutrients and improved drainage. Give this one some support so it doesn’t topple over in the wind.

‘Royal Aspirations’

	botanical name Delphinium elatum ‘Royal Aspirations’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 4’-5’
	hardiness zones 3-7

We all must aspire to something; for this sapphire stunner, royalty is the goal. ‘Royal Aspirations’ is a newer variety bred for improved heat and humidity tolerance, which is great news for Southern gardeners. Plant these in the fall and treat them as cool-season annuals in zones 9 and 10.

‘Royal Aspirations’ is a blue-flowered medium to tall delphinium variety, at four to five feet. I recommend staking these or planting them in a spot where they have some shelter from the elements. The blooms are close together and have a double petal form with ruffled edges.

‘Bellamosum’

	botanical name Delphinium x belladonna ‘Bellamosum’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 3’-4’
	hardiness zones 3-7

The belladonna hybrids may not be as statuesque as some taller varieties, but we don’t mind. These specially bred cultivars have sturdy stems and are closer to three to four feet tall. They need less attention and may not need staking at all. 

‘Bellamosum’ is on the taller end of this series of hybrids. The blossoms are more spaced out for a delicate, lacy appearance. These blooms are deep, bright blue. I would call them close to cerulean. 

‘Paramo Azul’

	botanical name Delphinium elatum ‘Parmo Azul’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 4’-5’
	hardiness zones 3-7

‘Paramo Azul’ is a spectacular cultivar with intensely blue, double-petaled flowers. These are highly decorative and on the taller end, so they benefit from staking and shelter. It’s a summer bloomer and a stand-out in the garden or a vase. 

For cut flowers, snip these stems when the first quarter of the blossoms are open. They will continue to open over the course of a week, which is about their vase life. 

‘Glitzy’

	botanical name Delphinium Delgenius® ‘Glitzy’ or ‘Et Dlp 17-10’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 18”-24”
	hardiness zones 3-9

Glitzy is a member of the Delgenius® series, bred by a Dutch breeder for stronger stems and increased heat tolerance. At only 18 inches tall, it is compact, so it doesn’t require staking, and it handles inclement weather excellently. 

This series has a mounding habit with branching stems, so it’s extra floriferous. The semi-double blossoms are violet in the center, deepening to blue at the edges, with a white bee center. They are prone to re-blooming and can flower between early summer and early fall. 

‘Summer Cloud’

	botanical name Delphinium grandiflorum ‘Summer Cloud’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 10”-1’
	hardiness zones 3-7

‘Summer Cloud’ is one of the smaller blue-flowered delphinium varieties. It has lacy green foliage and flower spikes about one foot tall. It belongs to the ‘Summer’ series and has a branching and mounding habit. It’s wonderful for a border or in the front of your cottage garden beds. 

The ‘Summer’ series plants do a ton of branching and blooming. They are early to flower and tolerate heat and humidity well. Make sure to deadhead regularly for continuous and repeat blooming. 

‘Summer Nights’

	botanical name Delphinium grandiflorum ‘Summer Nights’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 10”-1’
	hardiness zones 3-7

Another member of the ‘Summer’ series, ‘Summer Nights,’ is a dwarf cultivar with good heat tolerance. It flowers early and continues into the summer months. It forms attractive mounds of finely cut foliage and branches profusely. 

‘Summer Nights’ has single blossoms in a vivid royal blue shade—the color of the sky just before dark. The blooms are less dense, giving this variety a more delicate appearance with plenty of movement. It doesn’t require staking and is sturdy against rain and wind. 

‘Summer Skies’

	botanical name Delphinium elatum ‘Summer Skies’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 5’-6’
	hardiness zones 3-8

‘Summer Skies’ shares a name but not breeding with the ‘Summer’ series. Rather, it is a Pacific giant, which is quite the opposite! These heirloom cultivars tower over the garden as some of the largest varieties you can grow. Definitely stake or support these and protect them from strong winds and heavy rain. 

One thing is for certain: these are the color of a perfect summer sky. They’re aptly named for their sky-blue blossoms with bright white bees in the center. The blooms are large and semi-double, making them striking in the garden or the vase. 

‘Sunny Skies’

	botanical name Delphinium elatum ‘Sunny Skies’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 4’-6’
	hardiness zones 3-7

‘Sunny Skies’ is a ‘New Millennium’ cultivar, bred to be a tall, superior plant with lovely flowers. The pretty double blooms have at least 13 petals per blossom. Like most in the series, these have a white bee in the center. The blossoms are not as densely clustered as some smaller varieties.

The ‘New Millennium’ series has ideal form and structure, a vigorous growth habit, and strong stems that are perfect for cutting. ‘Sunny Skies’ is medium blue and can reach up to six feet tall.

‘Frosted Skies’

	botanical name Delphinium consolida ‘Frosted Skies’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 3’-4’
	hardiness zones 3-7

‘Frosted Skies’ is a light and delicate cultivar with flowers more spaced out than usual. Its open, airy texture makes it particularly striking in floral arrangements. 

This medium-height variety’s blossoms are a lovely lavender with blue accents. It may still need staking at three to four feet tall, as this one is more delicate. Delphiniums also dry nicely, making them wonderful for dried floral arrangements. 

‘Cobalt Dreams’

	botanical name Delphinium elatum ‘Cobalt Dreams’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 4’-6’
	hardiness zones 3-7

‘Cobalt Dreams’ is another ‘New Millennium’ variety, bred for excellence in every way. They are vigorous growers with a long blooming season and intricate, double-petal blossoms with a white bee in the center. These flowers are extra bright and beautiful.