Delphiniums, also known as larkspurs, can indeed spread in the garden. However, the extent to which they spread will depend on the variety of delphinium and the specific growing conditions. Some varieties of delphinium are more prone to self-seeding and spreading than others.
One way in which delphiniums can spread is through their ability to self-seed. When the flowers of a delphinium fade and go to seed, the seeds can scatter and germinate in the surrounding soil. This can lead to new delphinium plants popping up in different areas of the garden. If you want to prevent delphiniums from spreading, you can simply snip off the spent flowers before they have a chance to form seeds. This will help to contain the plant and prevent it from spreading to other areas.
It’s worth noting that if you do allow your delphiniums to self-seed, the resulting plants may not be identical to their parent plants. This is because delphiniums can cross-pollinate with other varieties, leading to new hybrids with different characteristics. If you’re looking to maintain the specific traits of a particular delphinium variety, it’s best to avoid allowing it to self-seed and instead propagate it through other methods such as division or cuttings.
In my own experience, I have grown delphiniums in my garden and have allowed them to self-seed to some extent. I found that the resulting plants varied in terms of color, height, and overall appearance. While this can add some unpredictability and variety to the garden, it’s important to keep in mind that these new plants may not necessarily match the characteristics of the parent plants.
If you do want to encourage delphiniums to spread and naturalize in your garden, there are a few things you can do. Firstly, you can leave the spent flowers on the plant until they form seeds. This will allow the seeds to drop to the ground and potentially germinate in the surrounding soil. Secondly, you can provide suitable conditions for the seeds to germinate by ensuring the soil is moist and well-drained, and by providing some shade to protect the young seedlings from excessive sun exposure.
It’s also worth mentioning that delphiniums can spread through their root systems. Some varieties of delphiniums produce underground runners called stolons, which can give rise to new plants. If you want to control the spread of delphiniums in your garden, it’s important to regularly monitor the area and remove any new shoots or runners that emerge from the ground.
Delphiniums have the potential to spread in the garden through self-seeding and the production of underground runners. Whether or not they spread will depend on the specific variety and growing conditions. If you want to prevent delphiniums from spreading, you can snip off the spent flowers before they go to seed. However, if you want to encourage spreading, you can leave the flowers to form seeds and provide suitable conditions for the seeds to germinate.
