Heirloom

Cliveden Beauty

Delphinium X belladonna

Photo: Galinaaa · Wikimedia Commons · (CC BY 4.0)

Harvest

130-135d

Days to harvest

📅

Sun

Full sun to partial shade

☀️

Zones

3–9

USDA hardiness

🗺️

Height

1-3 feet

📏

Planting Timeline

Zone:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Start Indoors

Transplant

Direct Sow

Start Indoors

Transplant

Direct Sow

Showing dates for Cliveden Beauty in USDA Zone 7

All Zone 7 flower →

Zone Map

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Cliveden Beauty · Zones 3–9

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Easy

Spacing12-18 inches

SoilWell-drained soil

WaterRegular

SeasonPerennial

ColorSky blue

Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar

Zone	Indoor Start	Transplant	Direct Sow	Harvest
Zone 3	April – May	June – July	June – August	—
Zone 4	March – April	June – June	June – July	—
Zone 5	March – April	May – June	May – July	—
Zone 6	March – April	May – June	May – July	—
Zone 7	February – March	April – May	April – June	—
Zone 8	February – March	April – May	April – June	—
Zone 9	January – February	March – April	March – May	—
Zone 10	January – January	February – March	February – April	—
Zone 1	May – June	July – August	July – September	—
Zone 2	April – May	June – July	June – August	—
Zone 11	January – January	January – February	January – March	—
Zone 12	January – January	January – February	January – March	—
Zone 13	January – January	January – February	January – March	—

Complete Growing Guide

First-year flowering perennial. Well-branched plants produce long, slender stems and lacy sky-blue blooms. Popular color and airy, delicate appearance for bouquets and design work. Tall plants may benefit from support, as stems can lodge or topple in heavy rain or wind. Attracts bees and butterflies. Often grown as an annual. Perennial in Zones 3-7. According to Johnny's Selected Seeds, Cliveden Beauty is 130 - 135 days to maturity, perennial, open pollinated. Notable features: Use for Cut Flowers and Bouquets, Attracts Beneficial Insects.

Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day), Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours). Soil: High Organic Matter. Soil pH: Alkaline (>8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage. Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: Less than 12 inches. Maintenance: High. Propagation: Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.

Harvesting

Cliveden Beauty reaches harvest at 130 - 135 days from sowing per Johnny's Selected Seeds.

Fruit dry, many seeded.

Color: Black, Brown/Copper.

Edibility: Poisonous. Plants are considered toxic to humans if ingested.

Storage & Preservation

For cut flowers, place freshly harvested Cliveden Beauty stems in a clean vase with cool water (65-72°F) in a cool location away from direct sunlight and ripening fruit. Change water every 2-3 days. Stems last 7-10 days indoors. For preservation: (1) Air-dry by hanging bundles upside-down in a dark, well-ventilated space for 2-3 weeks; dried blooms retain color well for arrangements. (2) Press blooms between paper in a heavy book for 2-3 weeks for decorative use. (3) Freeze flowers in ice cube trays with water for crafts and later use.

History & Origin

Cliveden Beauty is open-pollinated, meaning seed saved from healthy plants will produce true-to-type offspring. Listed in the Johnny's Selected Seeds catalog.

Origin: Temperate and Subtropical Old World, North America

Advantages

+Sky-blue blooms provide stunning color for fresh flower arrangements
+First-year flowering means immediate garden impact without waiting
+Well-branched plants produce abundant long stems for cutting
+Attracts pollinators while adding delicate, airy texture to gardens
+Easy to grow makes it ideal for beginning gardeners

Considerations

-Tall stems require staking support in windy or rainy climates
-Often grown as annual despite perennial hardiness in zones 3-7
-May require deadheading to encourage continuous blooming throughout season
-Susceptible to powdery mildew in humid growing conditions

Companion Plants

Lavender and catmint are the most practical pairings here — both prefer similar drainage conditions, attract the same pollinators (bumblebees especially), and their low, mounding habit fills in around the base of the delphinium without competing for light. Marigolds (Tagetes patula, the French type) pull double duty: they attract hoverflies whose larvae eat aphids, which matters because aphids are the primary vector for cucumber mosaic virus on Delphinium. Chives nearby serve a similar function — their allium scent is thought to disrupt aphid flight orientation, and NC State Extension notes alliums as generally useful near aphid-prone ornamentals. Alyssum and calendula work at ground level to draw in parasitic wasps, genuinely useful pressure for a plant you'd rather not spray once it's in full bloom.

The harmful companions are worth understanding rather than just memorizing. Black walnut (Juglans nigra) produces juglone, an allelopathic compound that leaches through the root zone and persists in leaf litter — Delphinium is sensitive enough that even planting it near the drip line of a mature walnut is a mistake. Eucalyptus has similar allelopathic properties through volatile oils in its fallen leaves; the effect is slower but real. Fennel is a different problem: it actively stunts most plants growing within a foot or two of it, and there's no workaround short of keeping it in a container well away from the border. All three are worth siting on a map before you put Cliveden Beauty in the ground.

Plant Together

Lavender

Repels pests like aphids and thrips while attracting beneficial pollinators

Marigolds

Natural nematode deterrent and attracts beneficial insects while repelling harmful ones

Catmint

Deters ants, aphids, and rodents while providing complementary purple-blue flowers

Rosemary

Repels carrot flies, cabbage moths, and other pests with strong aromatic oils

Alyssum

Attracts beneficial predatory insects like lacewings and hoverflies

Nasturtiums

Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles, drawing pests away

Chives

Repels aphids and Japanese beetles while improving soil health

Calendula

Attracts beneficial insects and helps deter whiteflies and tomato hornworms

Keep Apart

Black Walnut

Produces juglone toxin that inhibits growth and can cause wilting in sensitive plants

Eucalyptus

Releases allelopathic compounds that suppress growth of nearby flowering plants

Fennel

Inhibits growth of most garden plants through allelopathy and competes aggressively for nutrients

Troubleshooting Cliveden Beauty

What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.

White powdery coating on leaves and stems, usually appearing mid-summer after the first flush of bloom

Likely Causes

Powdery mildew (Erysiphe aquilegiae or related Erysiphales) — thrives in warm days, cool nights, and low airflow
Plants spaced too close together (under 12 inches) or crowded by neighboring perennials

What to Do

1.Cut stems back to the basal rosette after the first flush — this is standard practice anyway and removes the worst-affected tissue
2.Apply a diluted baking soda spray (1 tablespoon per gallon of water) or a neem oil solution at first sign; repeat every 7 days
3.Space new divisions at least 15 inches apart and keep the area around the crown clear of debris

Irregular holes chewed in new leaves and flower buds, mostly noticed in the morning; leaves sometimes reduced to bare stems overnight

Likely Causes

Slugs (Arion or Deroceras species) — Delphinium foliage is a slug favorite and the damage is almost always worse in wet springs
Earwigs (Forficula auricularia), which feed at night and shelter under mulch near the crown during the day

What to Do

1.Set out iron phosphate bait (Sluggo or equivalent) around the crowns in early spring before new growth is 3 inches tall
2.Pull mulch 3–4 inches away from the crown — slugs and earwigs need that shelter to stay active near the plant
3.Check under debris and leaf litter in the morning; earwigs can be hand-picked and dropped into soapy water

Stems wilting and collapsing at the base while upper foliage still looks green, often after a wet period

Likely Causes

Crown rot caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum or Botrytis cinerea — both establish fast in soggy, poorly drained soil
Planting crown too deep at transplant time, which traps moisture against the stem base

What to Do

1.Dig and discard affected plants — crown rot doesn't reverse, and leaving them in the ground spreads the pathogen
2.Improve drainage before replanting: work in compost or coarse grit to break up compacted soil
3.Set replacement transplants so the crown sits at or just above the soil surface, not below it

Leaves streaked yellow-green or distorted, with stunted flower spikes that fail to open fully

Likely Causes

Delphinium mosaic virus or cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), transmitted by aphids (Myzus persicae and related species)
Heavy aphid colonies on new growth — look for clusters of soft-bodied insects on stem tips and buds

What to Do

1.Knock aphids off with a firm spray of water; for persistent colonies, apply insecticidal soap directly to the insects every 4–5 days
2.If the plant shows clear mosaic or distortion symptoms, pull and bin it — virus-infected plants won't recover and act as a reservoir for aphids to spread the disease
3.Encourage parasitic wasps by planting alyssum or calendula within 3–4 feet of the crown; these predators keep aphid populations from building to damaging levels

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do Cliveden Beauty flowers last in a vase?▼

Cliveden Beauty cut flowers typically last 7-10 days when placed in cool water and kept out of direct sunlight. Change the water every 2-3 days and re-cut stems at a 45-degree angle to extend vase life. Remove any foliage below the waterline to prevent bacterial growth and preserve blooms longer.

Can you grow Cliveden Beauty in containers?▼

Yes, Cliveden Beauty can be grown in containers. Use well-draining potting soil and choose a pot at least 12 inches deep. Container plants may need staking for support, as tall stems can lodge in wind. Water regularly and provide 4-6+ hours of sunlight daily. Container-grown plants may flower slightly later than garden-grown specimens.

Is Cliveden Beauty a good choice for beginner gardeners?▼

Absolutely. Cliveden Beauty is rated as an easy-to-grow variety, making it ideal for beginners. It requires minimal care, tolerates various light conditions (full sun to partial shade), and grows reliably as a first-year annual or perennial in Zones 3-7. It's forgiving with watering and doesn't require specialized soil amendments.

When should I plant Cliveden Beauty seeds?▼

Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last spring frost, or direct sow after the last frost date once soil has warmed. For earliest blooms, indoor starting is recommended. Seeds germinate in 7-10 days. This heirloom variety typically flowers 130-135 days from sowing, so timing depends on your desired bloom period.

Do Cliveden Beauty flowers attract pollinators?▼

Yes, Cliveden Beauty is excellent for pollinators. Its delicate sky-blue blooms attract bees and butterflies throughout the growing season, making it a valuable addition to pollinator gardens. The abundant, long-lasting flowers provide consistent nectar and pollen sources for beneficial insects.

How do I dry Cliveden Beauty flowers for arrangements?▼

Hang freshly cut stems upside-down in bundles in a dark, well-ventilated space (garage, shed, closet) for 2-3 weeks. The flowers will dry while retaining their characteristic sky-blue color and delicate form, making them perfect for dried floral arrangements and bouquets that last indefinitely.