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We have bred special selections of our main range of colours for the cut flower trade. They are individual F1 hybrid crosses, tailored to the cut flower market. When developing cut flower strains we pay special attention to the following:
- Earliness: This is the time from the planting of the young plug plant until the time of the first harvest.
- Regrowth: This is the time between the first spike and the flowering of the second growth.
- Continuity: Does the plant flower in defined flushes, rest, then produce another flush; or is it more constant in productive habit, sending up new flower spikes throughout the season? We aim for the latter.
- Flower Colour: Needs to be clear and sharp. If dual colours, they need to harmonise or contrast well.
Petal holding ability: The lower first opening florets should still be attached when the last florets open.
- Form of flower: This is the size and shape of the florets; whether it has bee petals or not. Hooks on the back of the floret are undesirable as they lead to tangling.
- Form and strength of flower spike: Cut flower delphiniums should exhibit slender, full spikes of even, consistent form and the stems should be quite “wiry”.
- Height: Field production demands relatively short delphiniums to minimise support needs. For greenhouse production this is not quite so important but still, never the less, significant.
- Ability to rehydrate well. These strains must take up water well and be able to recover well after shipping.
We are offering the following varieties, having had excellent feedback from cut flower growing clients in New Zealand, who now prefer our strains:
- Royal Aspirations CF - Clear Mid to Deep Blue with a white bee
- Morning Lights CF - Light Blue/Mauve with a white bee
- Purple Passion CF - Deep, Clear Purple with white bee
- Sweethearts CF - Light Pinks with white bee
- Green Twist CF - White with a green hue, white to cream/green bee
Listed below are comparative details. They are in general terms only. We will have definitive information (like actual days from planting to flowering) next season but realistically such details as height depend very much on growing conditions .
- Earliness Mid
- Regrowth New spikes before first spike completely finished
- Continuity Tends to flush but fast turn around
- Flower Colour Clear Mid to Deep Blue with a white bee
- Petal holding ability Excellent
- Form of flower Clean, quite small, thirteen petals, plus bee, no hooks
- Form/strength of spike Extremely strong, full of flower and wiry
- Height Relatively tall
- Rehydration Excellent
- Earliness Early to mid
- Regrowth New spikes before first spike completely finished
- Continuity Tends to flush but fast turn around
- Flower Colour Light Blue/Mauve with a white bee
- Petal holding ability Excellent
- Form of flower Large, well defined thirteen petals, plus bee
- Form and strength of spike Compact full of flower, medium width
- Height Relatively short
- Rehydration Excellent
- Earliness Our fastest from planting to cutting
- Regrowth Quickest to regrow
- Continuity Virtually continuous
- Flower Colour White with green tinge, as are the bees also
- Petal holding ability Very good
- Form of flower Relatively small, compact florets, bees or double
- Form and strength of spike Compact, full of flower, narrow and strong
- Height Short (80cm to
1m)
- Rehydration Excellent
- Earliness Early
- Regrowth Almost as fast as Green Twist
- Continuity Virtually continuous
- Flower Colour Deep, clear, even purple with white bees
- Petal holding ability Good
- Form of flower Clean edged rounded petals (13), prominent bees
- Form and strength of spike Dark, thin, strong and full of flower
- Height Medium to short
- Rehydration Excellent
- Earliness Early
- Regrowth Almost as fast as Green Twist
- Continuity Virtually continuous, some flushing
- Flower Colour Mid to pale pinks with white bee
- Petal holding ability Excellent
- Form of flower Large, thirteen petals, plus bee
- Form and strength of spike Medium width, medium strength
- Height Medium
- Rehydration Excellent
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