Have you had success growing delphiniums, lupine, and/or foxglove in KC area? If so, how did you do it?

I grew delphiniums, lupine, and foxglove when I lived in Wisconsin, and would love to grow them here. I tried them here last year with no success for the delphiniums and lupine, and very limited success for the foxgloves. I see them for sale at all the area nurseries, so someone must be growing them. If you've successfully grown these in the Kansas City area, do you have any hints you can share? Thanks! Sally

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Permalink Reply by Sandy Mitchell on February 25, 2009 at 5:39pm

I have tried many times to grow these without success. The closest I have come is with thermopsis, sometimes called false lupine. I planted it in 2003 and it is still coming back.
Sandy

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Permalink Reply by kctomato on February 25, 2009 at 7:08pm

The only successful ones (delph and lupine) I have seen baby the plants. Light shade, moist well prepared soil. Even so they don't last long.

Ive seen foxgloves do ok as biennials. I think they did well for the person because it was in shade, she watered a lot in the summer, left the leaf litter and had them near hydrangeas that were amended occasionally with aluminum sulfate (both of these probably helped the soil stay acid) but she otherwise neglected the soil around them which allowed them to reseed.

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Permalink Reply by Phillip on February 27, 2009 at 5:46pm

Hi Sally, I have had some success growing delphiniums (pix on my page) and foxgloves, but never attempted lupines here due to their intolerance of clay soils and our hot & humid summers. My delphs are located near our house where they get morning sun and are shaded and sheltered from the wind in the afternoon. Foxglove would probably do well with similar siting; I planted some a few years ago and get intermittent flowers. I think you might need to keep planting from seed each fall until you get reliable re-seeders. I have a baptisia that's done well and might be a substitute for lupines if you have the space (it's about 3x4 feet). Good luck!

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Permalink Reply by Sally M. Williams on February 27, 2009 at 8:52pm

Thanks, Phillip! That's a good idea -- I should just wait until fall and try seeding.

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Permalink Reply by Ginny Balistreri on February 28, 2009 at 12:14pm

Hi Sally,
I grew up in Milwaukee and remember my mother's beautiful delphiniums, foxgloves and lupines. I tried to recreate that garden , but without success. I believe they thrive in cooler climates and the hot dry summers in kc prevent them from growing to their full potential. In England, Pacific hybrid delphiniums reach 6ft in height. Here , I grew "blue jay", a beautiful azure blue with a white "bee" nad only had one year of bloom. They did not emerge the following spring.
Perhaps a very rich soil in a partially shaded area might work. Dont't stop trying.

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Permalink Reply by Sally M. Williams on March 2, 2009 at 11:42am

I think you're right, Ginny. The most beautiful of these I've ever seen are on Vancouver Island in Canada and Washington and Oregon in the U.S. Though they get snow the winter temperatures aren't severe, the summers are cool, and there's abundant moisture. But there have been other great suggestions in reply to my question, so I'll keep trying!

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Permalink Reply by Susan V on March 1, 2009 at 9:31am

I have grown delphiniums and lupine here. The most successsful delphinium was going for 3 summers before I foolishly moved it , forgot about it and it passed. Lupine I grew from seed and it did self seed for a few years.It's run ended when my son "weeded" the bed. None of the plants ever got really large but they did bloom. In both cases they lived in a part shade area. The lupine on the east side of my house as previously commented on- near a babied hydrangea . The delphinium tucked under a butterfly bush . Both soils were really amended well with compost and the lupine area had aluminum sulfate. I like to think that if I had paid them more attention they would both be thriving still. It's not impossible--- if you want it, keep trying!

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Permalink Reply by Sally M. Williams on March 2, 2009 at 12:55pm

Thanks, Susan! These are terrific suggestions, and yes, I'll keep trying.

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Permalink Reply by Karen on March 18, 2009 at 11:42am

I have grown Lupines successfully without any problem. I didn't do anything special to make them grow and started them from seed in typical KC clay filled soil mixed with some regular garden soil. I wish I had some insight into why yours didn't work. The site where I planted them got lots of sun and had infrequent waterings.