DELPHINIUM

SEASONALITY
➜ Available Year-Round
➜ Peak Spring–Summer (Apr–Jun)

DESIGN TYPE
➜ Line Flower, Accent Flower

VASE LIFE
➜ Moderately Long-Lasting

BLOOM SIZE
➜ Variety Dependent
➜ 0.5in–1.5in

STEM LENGTH
➜ 60–120cm

➜ Delphinium appreciates conditioning within 12 or so hours whenever possible, though it can typically remain dry-packed in the cooler for up to 2 days when necessary

➜ Recut stems at a sharp angle before conditioning to maximize water uptake

➜ Condition in deep, clean buckets with fresh flower food for at least 4–6 hours before designing

➜ Fill buckets generously—these tall stems appreciate a deep water source while hydrating

➜ Strip foliage from the lower portion of each stem to improve water quality and reduce bacterial growth

➜ Gently separate tangled flower spikes before conditioning rather than pulling them apart after they've hydrated
➜ Best practice is holding the bunch upside down and giving it a gentle back-and-forth twist of the wrist, then delicately separating stems one-by-one

➜ Design in fresh water whenever possible, though properly saturated floral foam performs well for event work

➜ Keep arrangements cool before delivery or setup, especially during warm weather

➜ Bring a few extra stems for outdoor summer weddings or lengthy installations, as delphinium can dehydrate more quickly than hardier flowers

➜ Handle flower spikes carefully during transport—those tiny florets bruise and shatter more easily than they look

POSITIVES ➜
♡ Incredible height and movement
♡ Gorgeous blue and lavender colors
♡ Excellent focal and line flower
♡ Creates major visual impact

NEGATIVES ➜
✗ Delicate florets require careful handling
✗ Can be top-heavy during transport
✗ Peak availability is seasonal
✗ Has never met a ceiling it didn't want to touch

My delphinium arrived with some flowers already open and others still in bud—is that normal?
➜ Absolutely—delphinium naturally blooms from the bottom of the spike upward, so a mix of open florets and unopened buds is exactly what you want to see

Can delphinium stay boxed overnight?
➜ Yes, delphinium is fairly forgiving and can usually remain dry-packed in the cooler overnight—but earlier processing will always produce the best vase life

Why are some of the blooms falling off?
➜ Some floret drop is completely normal during shipping and handling—excessive shedding usually means the stems have become too warm, too dry, or have been handled roughly

Can I use delphinium in floral foam?
➜ Yes—delphinium performs well in properly saturated floral foam, making it a popular choice for sympathy and funeral work, church and ceremony pieces, and large-scale event designs

Can delphinium stay out of water during setup?
➜ Briefly, yes; but for the longest vase life, minimize the amount of time stems spend dry—especially during warm weather

Why are some stems taller than others?
➜ Natural variation is expected—stem length, bloom density, and the number of open florets vary throughout the growing season and between farms

My bunch looks thinner than the website photos—is something wrong?
➜ Not at all—product photos are often shot after conditioning, when florets have fully hydrated and additional buds have begun opening
➜ Fresh shipments often need a little time before reaching their full potential

Are delphinium flowers fragrant?
➜ Most varieties have little to no noticeable scent

Can delphinium be used as a focal flower?
➜ Not usually, but it depends on the design (and the variety)—delphinium can make an enormous impact when grouped or massed in an arrangement

☆ One of the best flowers for adding height
☆ Provides highly sought-after blue tones
☆ Creates movement without visual heaviness
☆ Essential for many garden-style recipes
☆ Makes arrangements feel significantly grander

☆ Garden Roses
☆ Campanula
☆ Cornflower
☆ Sweet Pea
☆ Hydrangea
☆ Lisianthus
☆ Tweedia

☆ Delphinium gets its name from the Greek word for dolphin

☆ Their flowers naturally open from the bottom of the stem upward, allowing each spike to continue changing throughout its vase life

☆ Because of their impressive height and vertical shape, delphinium is one of the floral industry's most popular line flowers for adding movement and structure

☆ Spent lower florets can be gently removed as new buds continue opening higher on the stem, keeping arrangements looking fresh even longer