Unknown Delphinium

[Rob Potterton]

A friend - Mike Ireland - is looking for the true name of this Delphinium. It was originally acquired from the AGS seed exchange over 20 years ago as D. brunonianum, collected in the Himalaya, but is more like the description given to D. grandiflorum. Grows from a central root stock and is easy from seed.  Seeds around the garden but not in an invasive way. Appears to be a short lived perennial, 2-3 years. Flowers from late spring right through to late December, 12" to 15" tall.

[Maggi Young]

Not very good on these Delphinium, Rob, but this looks more like D. tatsienense to me 

[Giles]

Dear Rob,
I don't know if these help:
On the leaves, the 2nd one down on the left is D.tatienense .
The flowers,the top one (blue) is D.brunonianum
from Delphiniums (Bassett) 2006

[Luc Gilgemyn]

My vote would go to D. tatsienense as well Rob.

[Rob Potterton]

Here is a close up of the leaf. I am encouraging Mike to join the forum and make further comments on his Delphinium.

[Maggi Young]

I am encouraging Mike to join the forum

Well, that's a great idea... it's not as if he doesn't know most of us already!!

The leave is certainly what I think of as tatsienense, and the flowers most surely so.... but I must admit that there are more "points" on Mike's plant than the example in the book.... Mike's leaves  looking much more like little green Stag's antlers!
 Hmm... we  need a delphinium maven here...... Coooeeeeee.... anybody out there.....? 

[Woodmyst]

Delphinium Belladonna.  They are sold here as heirloom herbs.

[Maggi Young]

Hi, Woodmyst..... I don't think you're correct with Delphinium Belladonna group.... the plant in question is from seed wild collected  in the Himalaya and grows only 12 to 15 inches tall...... not exactly a description of a Belladonna Delphinium, I'm afraid.

[Sinchets]

A friend - Mike Ireland - is looking for the true name of this Delphinium. It was originally acquired from the AGS seed exchange over 20 years ago as D. brunonianum, collected in the Himalaya, but is more like the description given to D. grandiflorum.

I just wanted to add that i bought seed from the AGS seed exchange, maybe 5 or 6 years ago, which was labelled as Delphinium brunonianum. It was the same as the one in the pics here. Nice to know its possible history though. Its germline is now mixed in with the other Delphiniums I have bought from various sources, that all blur into the tatsiense, chinense, grandiflorum continuum- still a pleasant enough little weed  and what was I expecting for 10p?