What is a good plant to subsitute for blue Delph.in hot Mo?

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elayna Kansas City, MO Feb 05, 2009

I love the tall upright forms and colors of the delphiniums but our heat make them hard to grow.
Has anyone had any good luck with another type of perennial to grown in Missouri that has this form? Seems like one of the seed catalogs mentioned a replacement but I have no idea now what it was.

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dp72 Woodway, TX(Zone 8a) Feb 05, 2009

Angelonia is a wonderful plant, but they are annual. They are very upright and come in amazing colors.

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plantfreak78 Rolesville, NC(Zone 7b) Feb 05, 2009

There's a new series of Delphinium called the Summer Series (ie- 'Summer Blues', 'Summer Nights' etc.). Supposedly they're more heat tolerant than any other Delphiniums. Our nursery grew them last year (zone 7b-8) and they seemed to fair pretty well so we're growing them again this year. They're may not be as tall as you hoped for but you may still find them to be worthwhile. Just a thought...

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DebiH Fort Payne, AL Feb 10, 2009

Magic Fountain (about 2') is a bit taller than the Summer Series (about 10"), and they should act as perennials. I plant 'true' delphiniums here in Alabama as annuals, and give them afternoon shade. They do beautifully for one summer but don't come back.

For height in sun I like hollyhocks and tall lilies. First year tall lilies usually only get about 3', but if they're happy they'll head upwards of 6' after a couple of years. Not exactly great if you're after blue, but it's still pretty. Hope you like to stake plants!

BTW, I've started differentiating between 'full sun' and 'pool sun' when talking to my nursery. Even sun-loving petunias have a heck of a time in our southern full sun, so I don't consider them 'pool plants,' whereas roses, dahlias and lantana can take it poolside in TRUE full sun (as long as they get a dunk in the pool every day!). I don't actually have a pool, mind you, but I do have pool-sun areas, and since I've been making the difference, I've burned far fewer plants.

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Terry Murfreesboro, TN(Zone 7a) Mar 03, 2009

For similar form, you might consider some of the Verbascum (especially 'Southern Charm' and the phoeniceum cultivars): http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/b/Scrophulariaceae/Verbascum/phoeniceum/cultivar/0/

and foxgloves: http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/adv_search.php?searcher[common]=&searcher[family]=&searcher[genus]=Digitalis&searcher[species]=&searcher[cultivar]=&searcher[hybridizer]=&searcher[grex]=&search_prefs[blank_cultivar]=&search_prefs[sort_by]=rating&images_prefs=both&Search=Search

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KaylyRed Watertown, WI(Zone 5a) Mar 04, 2009

I know I'm not a southern gardener, but I've had very good luck with both heat and humidity tolerance with Delphinium x belladonna. The D. elatums seem to be pickier and less tolerant of heat and humidity, by my D. belladonna even rebloomed here in Wisconsin's humid summer heat.

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/98956/

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