Getting it to bloom

Why won't my Candle Larkspur 'Guardian Blue' bloom? (and how to make it flower)

Also called Candle Larkspur, Larkspur, Perennial Delphinium (Delphinium elatum).

More about candle larkspur 'guardian blue'

About Candle Larkspur 'Guardian Blue'

Delphinium elatum · also called Candle Larkspur, Larkspur · flowering

A tall, stately perennial producing dense, upright spikes of clear blue flowers with white 'bee' centres in early to midsummer. 'Guardian Blue' is a reliable seed-raised cultivar suited to borders and cottage gardens. All parts of Delphinium are highly toxic to dogs, cats, horses, and humans, containing norditerpenoid alkaloids.

Plant type: flowering

The reasons candle larkspur 'guardian blue' isn't blooming

Almost every non-blooming candle larkspur 'guardian blue' traces back to one of these, roughly in order of how common they are:

Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.
Too much nitrogen feed, driving lush foliage at the expense of flowers (very common with general or lawn feeds).
The plant has not been deadheaded, so it stops flowering once it sets seed.
Irregular watering — drought or waterlogging at the budding stage makes buds abort.
It is still too young or was checked by a transplant and is rebuilding before flowering.

Feeding candle larkspur 'guardian blue' a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.

The fix — how to get candle larkspur 'guardian blue' to flower

Maximise sun. Give candle larkspur 'guardian blue' the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers.
Switch the feed. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.
Deadhead regularly. Remove spent flowers often to keep it producing more rather than stopping to set seed.
Water consistently. Keep moisture even through budding and flowering — drought-then-flood swings make buds drop.

Light and feeding do most of the heavy lifting here. Dial in the spot with the light guide for candle larkspur 'guardian blue' and get the feeding right with the candle larkspur 'guardian blue' fertilising schedule — the wrong feed (too much nitrogen) is one of the most common silent reasons a healthy plant makes leaves instead of flowers.

Bloom season and what to expect

Candle Larkspur 'Guardian Blue' flowers across its growing season (mostly summer) and, kept fed and deadheaded, can bloom for many weeks or right up to frost.

Post-bloom care so it flowers again

Deadhead, keep feeding lightly, and many will rebloom; collect seed from the best plants at the end of the season if you want to grow them again.

For everything else this plant needs day to day, see the full candle larkspur 'guardian blue' care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.

Candle Larkspur 'Guardian Blue' blooming — frequently asked questions

Why won't my candle larkspur 'guardian blue' flower?

Candle Larkspur 'Guardian Blue' blooms on the season's growth given enough sun, warmth and the right feed — there is no cold or photoperiod trick, just good growing conditions and a bloom-leaning feed. The most common reason it is not happening: Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.

How do I make candle larkspur 'guardian blue' bloom?

Give candle larkspur 'guardian blue' the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.

When does candle larkspur 'guardian blue' normally bloom?