Japanese name: ヒエンソウ（飛燕草） Scientific name:Delphinium ajacis
[Overview]
An annual 30–90 cm tall.
The stem is erect and not much branched.
The leaves include basal leaves and alternate stem leaves.
The basal leaves are palmately 3-lobed, and the lobes are further finely divided.
The basal leaves have petioles.
A raceme is borne at the stem tip.
The flowers have 5 conspicuous petal-like sepals, and the upper sepal has a long spur behind it.
The petals project slightly at the center of the flower.
Flower colors include blue, pale purple, red, pink and white.
The fruit is a follicle.
[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed.
Germination of the seed is inhibited in hot weather, so sow it from late September onward, after the lingering summer heat has passed.
It prefers a fertile soil that is well drained, retains water well and is airy.
Grow it in a sunny, well-ventilated place.
In cool regions, some plants can get through the summer if kept on the dry side in airy partial shade.
For potted plants, water thoroughly when the soil surface dries.
For plants in the ground, rainfall is sufficient.
Apply slow-release fertilizer as a base fertilizer, and give additional fertilizer during the growing season.
Pests and diseases include powdery mildew and damping-off.
