Delphinium 'Michael Ayres' (Delphinium 'Michael Ayres' )

Botanical name

Delphinium 'Michael Ayres'

Other names

Delphinium 'Michael Ayres' , Larkspur 'Michael Ayres'

Genus

Delphinium Delphinium

Variety or Cultivar

'Michael Ayres' _ 'Michael Ayres' is an upright, clump-forming, herbaceous perennial with palmate, finely divided, dark green leaves and, in summer, branching spikes of deep purple-blue flowers with dark eyes.

Foliage

Deciduous

Habit

Clump-forming, Upright

Toxicity

All parts of the plant may cause severe discomfort if ingested. Contact with sap may cause skin irritation.

Awards

RHS AGM (Award of Garden Merit)

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Colour

Flower

Purple in Summer

Foliage

Dark-green in Spring; Dark-green in Summer; Dark-green in Autumn

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How to care

Watch out for

Specific pests

Caterpillars , Slugs , Snails , Leaf-mining sawflies

Diseases

May also be subject to a virus.

Specific diseases

Black blotch of Delphinium , Crown rot , Powdery mildew

General care

Pruning

For the best flower spikes, thin shoots when plants are 7cm high leaving 2-3 shoots on young plants, 5-7 shoots on mature plants. Deadhead by cutting spent flower spikes back to small flowering side shoots. Cut to ground level in autumn.

Propagation

Sow seed at 13C in late winter to early spring,

Propagation methods

Basal cuttings

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Monthly care advice

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Where to grow

Delphinium 'Michael Ayres' (Delphinium 'Michael Ayres' ) will reach a height of 1.5m and a spread of 0.6m after 2-5 years.

Suggested uses

Beds and borders, City, Cottage/Informal, Flower Arranging

Cultivation

Plant in a fertile, well-drained soil in full sun with shelter from strong winds. In growth, feed every 2-3 weeks with a balanced liquid fertiliser.

Soil type

Chalky, Loamy, Sandy

Soil drainage

Well-drained, Moist but well-drained

Soil pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

Light

Full Sun

Aspect

South, East, West

Exposure

Sheltered

UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.

Hardy (H4)

USDA zones

Zone 8, Zone 7, Zone 6, Zone 5, Zone 4, Zone 3

Defra's Risk register #1

Plant name

Delphinium 'Michael Ayres' (Delphinium 'Michael Ayres' )

Common pest name

Scientific pest name

Phytophthora tentaculata Kröber & Marwitz - All Hosts

Type

Oomycete

Current status in UK

Absent

Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

5

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

3

General biosecurity comments

Polyphagous pathogen present in parts of Europe and beyond.

About this section

Our plants are under greater threat than ever before. There is increasing movement of plants and other material traded from an increasing variety of sources. This increases the chances of exotic pests arriving with imported goods and travellers, as well as by natural means. Shoot is working with Defra to help members to do their part in preventing the introduction and spread of invasive risks.

Traveling or importing plants? Please read "Don't risk it" advice here

Suspected outbreak? Click here for contact details to report to the relevant authority.

Date updated: 7^th March 2019 For more information visit: https://planthealthportal.defra.gov.uk/