Delphinium elatum 'Double Innocence'

Double Innocence' blooms with dense spikes of pure white, double flowers of frilly petals. Removing spent flower spikes will result in another round of blooms on secondary spikes in late summer and fall. Its large, deeply incised leaves make this plant attractive even when it's not in bloom. Selected in New Zealand, the New Millennium delphinium strains outperform all other tall types and offer some astonishingly rich shades of purple, dark blue, sky blue, pink, dusty rose, lavender, white and white with green. The stems are strong and the plants are generally longer lived than other tall delphiniums. Photo courtesy of Dowdeswell's Delphiniums Ltd

Almost too lovely for words, ‘Double Innocence’ comes to us from the Dowdeswell family of New Zealand. If you’ve yet to discover these “Towers of Power,” you must try one. Really, one is all you need! Extra large, double pure white flowers are centered by a charming green eye on huge spikes to 6’ tall. Reliably perennial (even here in CA), they get bigger & better every year, sending up more & more simultaneous spikes & easily reaching 4’ or 5’ across. Mildew resistant - even here in the fogbelt. The trick to greatness is growing them in richy rich soil with lots of compost. When the flower spikes look spent, cut them back to 4” & you’ll get another round or two of bloom. Bait for snails with Sluggo. Outrageous cut flowers!