{"id":8851,"date":"2026-10-17T19:50:07","date_gmt":"2026-10-18T02:50:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wrwofficial.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/17\/how-to-prepare-delphinium-plants-for-winter\/"},"modified":"2026-10-17T19:50:09","modified_gmt":"2026-10-18T02:50:09","slug":"how-to-prepare-delphinium-plants-for-winter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wrwofficial.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/17\/how-to-prepare-delphinium-plants-for-winter\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Prepare Delphinium Plants for Winter"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

\n
\"A<\/div>\n
\"A\"A<\/div>\n
\"A\"A<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

It\u2019s kind of a miracle that my first-ever delphiniums survived their maiden winter in Alaska.<\/p>\n

I had purchased them at the Home Depot, planted them, and then sat back and happily watched the spikes bloom in gorgeous shades of purple and blue against my red house.<\/p>\n

When September came, dragging increasingly chilly nights along with it, the delphiniums died back.<\/p>\n

\n
\"A\"A<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

And then\u2026 I just left them there. Tall, scraggly, and brown, without any mulch to speak of.<\/p>\n

Unless you count snow.<\/p>\n

Yet they came back the following spring. I had to cut the dead stalks down to allow the new green growth to grow uninhibited.<\/p>\n

The next winter, I made sure to cut the stalks down before<\/em> the snow fell.<\/p>\n

I also made a few more preparations to make sure my beautiful plants could easily grow new shoots the following spring.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re wondering how to get your delphiniums ready for winter, this guide will show you everything you need to know.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what I\u2019ll cover:<\/p>\n

Delphinium vs. Larkspur<\/h2>\n

Before you prepare your plants for winter, it\u2019s a good idea to make sure you know what\u2019s in your garden.<\/p>\n

Delphiniums are often confused with their close relatives, larkspur. And for good reason: the two look nearly identical.<\/p>\n

\n
\"A\"A<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

But true larkspur is an annual<\/strong><\/a> that\u2019s not going to survive over the winter no matter what you do, whereas delphiniums are short-lived perennials that can be overwintered.<\/p>\n

Larkspur does reseed easily, however, so don\u2019t lose hope if you are growing larkspur!<\/p>\n

Some of the most common perennial delphinium species include Delphinium elatum<\/em>, D. grandiflorum<\/em>, and D. chelianthum<\/em>.<\/p>\n

In addition to the difference between annual and perennial status, larkspur (Consolida<\/em> spp.) tends to be a more delicate flower with more spaced-apart blooms.<\/p>\n

\n
\"A\"A
Larkspur.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Delphinium blooms, on the other hand, are often more densely clustered.<\/p>\n

Yet even perennial delphiniums are sometimes referred to with the common name \u201clarkspur,\u201d so I don\u2019t blame you if you\u2019re confused.<\/p>\n

When and How to Cut Spent Stalks<\/h2>\n

To keep your garden looking tidy during the growing season, feel free to deadhead<\/a><\/strong>. Cut flower stalks down to where the leaves begin once all the blooms have faded.<\/p>\n

This will encourage the growth of side shoots, possibly providing you with a second round of color before fall hits.<\/p>\n

\n
\"A\"A
The area around the stalk has bark mulch, but I\u2019ll be adding straw in a couple of weeks. Photo by Laura Melchor.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Make sure you don\u2019t cut the leaf stalk off until all of the leaves have turned yellow and begun to brown.<\/p>\n

When those leaves are good and dead, you can cut the stalks all the way down to about an inch or two above soil level.<\/p>\n

As demonstrated in the photo above, you might still see small side shoots grow right up until first frost, and that\u2019s fine. They\u2019ll die back soon enough.<\/p>\n

When springtime comes, new shoots will grow up past the old stalk, bringing a riot of color to your flower beds.<\/p>\n

Clear Debris<\/h2>\n

Winter cleaning is just as important as spring cleaning \u2013 especially when it comes to gardening.<\/p>\n

In the area around where your delphiniums are growing, clear away any debris left by your dazzling columns of blue and purple beauties.<\/p>\n

\n
\"A\"A<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Pluck any remaining weeds out as well.<\/p>\n

Cleaning my flower garden before I tuck my delphiniums in for their winter dormancy is extra important this year because my garden suffered a massive aphid infestation<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Whenever I trimmed off aphid-infested stalks this summer, I took them to the fire pit to be burned.<\/p>\n

Many species of aphid eggs are, unfortunately, quite cold hardy<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

You can\u2019t count on even a bitterly cold Zone 3 winter to kill them and prevent them from returning the following spring.<\/p>\n

By cleaning your garden, you make it harder for aphids, along with other pests and diseases, to come back in full force when the weather warms up again.<\/p>\n

Water Your Plants<\/h2>\n

Just because the plant stops blooming and starts dying back doesn\u2019t mean you should stop watering it.<\/p>\n

The roots, after all, are very much alive and will need moisture right up until the ground freezes.<\/p>\n

\n
\"A\"A<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

If it rains about once or twice a week, don\u2019t worry about adding water. But do give your plants about an inch of water<\/strong><\/a> every week if you\u2019re stuck in a dry spell.<\/p>\n

Stop watering them once air temperatures begin to drop into the low 40s and below.<\/p>\n

During warm periods between freezing spells, if you don\u2019t have melting snow or rain, go ahead and give the plants some water.<\/p>\n

Keeping the plants hydrated in the fall and during any periods to follow when air temperatures are above freezing will help ensure the glorious return of their beauty come springtime.<\/p>\n

Add Mulch for Warmth<\/h2>\n

The next thing you\u2019ll want to do is mulch the stalk and root area, to help the plant stay warm and hydrated during the winter.<\/p>\n

While delphiniums are cold hardy to USDA Zone 3, where temperatures can get down to -30\u00b0F, they need a bit of help to ensure that they survive a cold and frosty winter.<\/p>\n

\n
\"A\"A<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

In mid- to late fall, grab some organic mulch from your local gardening store. I like to buy straw bales from my local animal supply store, and this is another excellent option.<\/p>\n

Sometimes I even use a mix of straw and hay, and until recently, I admit I didn\u2019t exactly understand the difference between the two.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a quick breakdown:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Straw is the dried-out stem of grain crops<\/a><\/strong>. It\u2019s what\u2019s left after the grains that grew on it have been harvested. It\u2019s literally just hollow stalks.<\/li>\n
  • Hay is unharvested, dried-out grains and grass, meaning there are lots more seeds in hay that could find their way into your garden soil and grow as weeds if they are viable.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    You can also use wood chips, chopped-up leaves<\/strong><\/a>, and even evergreen boughs like those left over after you take down your Christmas tree.<\/p>\n

    Make sure you remove these in spring as they can alter the pH of the soil as they break down.<\/p>\n

    Mulch provides protection from severe cold, especially if a layer of snow falls on top of it.<\/p>\n

    Mulch also helps to keep the soil from shifting and heaving under changing temperatures and unpredictable spells of rain and snow.<\/p>\n

    You can learn more about winter mulching here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

    Safely Tucked in for Winter<\/h2>\n

    With your delphiniums cozied up for cold times, you\u2019ll be able to relax and enjoy a restful hibernation period, too.<\/p>\n

    \n
    \"A\"A<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

    When springtime rolls around again, you and your delphiniums can hop into action again and get ready for a splendid spring and summer.<\/p>\n

    Have you ever overwintered these lovely flowers? If you have any extra tips or questions, drop me a line in the comments below.<\/p>\n

    And for more information about growing delphiniums in your garden<\/a><\/strong>, check out these guides next:<\/p>\n