Florists' Review Media Group has served the global floral in study for over 124 years.
Issue link: http://floridahomesmag.uberflip.com/i/1474896
DELPHINIUM FUN FACTS • Delphinium luteum, a yellow species, is a perennial herb endemic to the rocky, foggy hillsides of coastal Sonoma County, Calif. It is currently on the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service's list of endangered plants. • Delphinium is the favorite fl ower of Great Britain's Prince Charles. • Edward Steichen, the chief photographer at Condé Nast from 1923 to 1937, was a passionate supporter of Delphinium and encouraged the bloom to be included in the publishing house's Vogue and Vanity Fair magazines. Steichen also was the president of the American Delphinium Society from 1935 to 1939. • In the early days of medicine, certain varieties of Delphinium were thought to be an effective remedy for poisonous stings, intestinal worms, colic and poor appetite, as well as being used in amulets to protect the wearers from scorpion stings and snakebites. A tincture, made from Delphinium leaves and seeds, was used to kill lice and nits in the hair, too. • English author A.A. Milne, popular for his books about Winnie-the-Pooh and children's poetry, wrote a poem invoking the Delphinium titled "The Dormouse and the Doctor": "There once was a Dormouse who lived in a bed, Of delphiniums (blue) and geraniums (red), And all the day long he'd a wonderful view, Of geraniums (red) and delphiniums (blue)." TRENDING NEW VARIETIES We contacted the owners of Blackmore & Langdon, England's venerable horticultural company that has specialized in growing Delphinium (and Begonia) since 1901 (blackmore-langdon.com). e fourth generation family of Delphinium growers include brothers Simon, Stephen and Nicholas Langdon. So what is trending with Delphinium now? For weddings around the globe, tall white "garden" fl owers to complement peonies and roses are extremely popular. Simon Langdon recommends the following varieties of candle larkspurs (D. elatum), which have become fl orist favorites. White • 'Moonbeam' (pure white, with white bees/eyes) • 'Jill Curley' (pure white, with white bees/eyes) • 'Constance Rivett' (pure white, with white bees/eyes) • 'Sandpiper' (pure white, with black bees/eyes) Blue • 'Faust' (ultramarine and indigo, with black bees/eyes) • 'Blue Dawn' (sky blue blushed with pink, with black bees/eyes) Simon Langdon says that 'Blue Dawn' will be a special fl ower for weddings because of its unexpected splash of pink. Pink 'Strawberry Fair' (mulberry-rose, with white bees/eyes) Design 42 August | 2022