Native Delphinium
Delphinium exaltatum
Slender spires of rich blue-violet in midsummer without the staking and fuss of hybrid delphiniums. Hummingbirds and bumblebees seek it out.
Typically 1 pint–1 gal · $9–$30 · final price at pickup
- Thu, Aug 138 AM – 4 PM
- Fri, Aug 148 AM – 4 PM
- Sat, Aug 158 AM – 2 PM
Deep blue-violet flower spikes in midsummer that hummingbirds seek out. and none of the finicky care demands of the hybrid garden delphiniums.
Native delphinium is the wildflower answer to the fussy hybrid garden delphiniums that demand staking, soil amendments, and constant attention. This species grows naturally on moist wooded slopes and stream banks across the Appalachians and Ozarks, producing slender spires of rich blue to violet flowers in midsummer that are genuinely beautiful without any of the maintenance overhead. The color is intense: that deep clear blue-violet that's rare in native plants. Hummingbirds and bumblebees are its primary pollinators, both attracted by the tubular flower shape and rich nectar. Plant it in drifts at the back of a shaded border or along a stream bank and let it self-seed gently to expand over time.
A nursery-grown plant, ready for the ground.
Healthy, container-grown native delphinium propagated on-site at Hill House from regional genetics. Includes a one-page care card. We make every effort to supply plants as listed; occasionally we substitute a similar species of equal value.
- Sun
- Full sun
- Water
- Average
- Mature size
- 3–5 ft · 18–24 in wide
- Bloom time
- Midsummer, late summer
- Bloom color
- Purple, Blue
- USDA zones
- 4–8
- Family
- Ranunculaceae
- Native range
- Eastern United States (PA to NC, west to OH and MO)
Care notes for native delphinium.
Full sun to part shade in moist, well-drained soil rich in organic matter. Consistent moisture is important. this is a stream-bank plant at heart. Staking may be needed in exposed locations. Cut back after bloom to encourage reblooming. Self-seeds modestly. All plant parts are toxic if ingested.
Pairs well with these.
Same light, same soil, same wildlife. Janet's picks to plant alongside native delphinium.
Or skip the guesswork.
Curated packages bundle complementary species for an instant habitat. One reservation, one pickup day, a printed layout map.
Short on Space Package
For gardeners who have an abundance of passion but are short on space, this package features tidy, upright, clump-forming natives that behave and function well in small spaces.
Shade Bed Package
Ferns, sedges, and woodland natives that thrive under existing trees.
Birder’s Paradise Package
For the avid bird watchers and budding ornithologists in our community, the Birder’s Paradise Package consists of species that Hill House Nursery staff and longtime native plant advocates such as Doug Tallamy consider ‘premier bird garden plants’.