I found some really bright blue delphiniums at walmart and I wonder if they will really come back again next year? Does the plant return, or does it seed?
I don't have very good luck with seeds. But the blue color was too alluring!

Which delphinium did you buy?
The tall delphinium elatums are perennial.
The shorter delphinium grandiflorum are re- seeding annuals.

The tall ones are short lived perennials for me. I have 4 that are 3 years old now and I think that's the longest I've ever gotten them to live.

Tried them a few times and only once did it overwinter and did not come back the 3rd year.

I have one thatI picked up at our aboretum sale at least 8 years ago so far it comes back every year. It gets quite tall and bushy I cage it to keep it upright or the wind will knock it over. Seems to me like the name was blushing bride it is a pink.

Mine (tall, white and bloom ones) do come back year-after-year.
But some were killed in the drought last summer.
Winter freeze is OK.

They seldom come back here for me.
You have a better chance if you cut the bloom stalk after blooming and don't let the plant put energy into seed.

There are many different varieties of delphiniums.
You need to talk to other gardeners in your area to find which ones work for them.
Some delphiniums are less hardy, and some are monocarpic and die after flowering.

Most seem to be for zone 3-7 and some of the more popular varieties are listed here. (link). I love that blue one it reminds me of Lupine from a distance. I think I will try some, now see what you did? Enablers!!

http://www.bhg.com/gardening/p...

I buy one or more every year and plant them in the same general area. They are short lived for me, so some years I have more of an impact that others. I love the dark blue with the darker blue bee, sometimes hard to find, I think it is of the Pacific Giant strain. Looks like this was from a year of very few blooms, or I just snapped this one solo.

Deb, good advice! I was noticing that they are for zones 3-7 and I think it is too hot for them here in zone 8. They like cool summers? Where do you find a cool summer in zone 8?

the one I got is not tall like a spike like that, and it has fine foliage. I don't care if it dies, as long as it makes seeds. Why would it matter as long as they are still there?
Do they bloom the first year from seed?

My experience is that the grandiflorum type ( also called Chinese delphinium) flowers from early sown seeds.
The perennials take a year or two before they flower.

I do like the spiky ones. I will buy a couple and use them as an annual.

Deb, yours is gorgeous!!

Back when I was a younger ( read "inexperienced") gardener, I kept trying them here and they behaved mostly like annuals. They do not tolerate our hot dry summers here at all. So, I think the answer is, it depends entirely on your climate. I grow spiky perennials now that DO tolerate this climate. Back in 2008, I've never been so shocked as when I was on a National Daylily tour in Houston, TX, and one of the garden had blue delphiniums! They HAVE to be grown as annuals in that hot climate. I can't imagine them surviving a summer in Houston!

They are short lived perennials. Usually live around 4 years. They prefer a neutral soil pH, so they benefit from lime in most areas (or planted near concrete such as a sidewalk or a foundation). The New Zealand delphiniums are now considered to be the best---tall sturdy stems that often do not need staking.

Very nice! Do you know any one who sells them?

My Pacific Giant Delphinium elatum (from seed) was advertised as a short-lived perennial in Zones 2 through 5 or so, but 4+ years in Zone 7 and up.

Mine got bigger and better for three years, then disappeared. But I didn't deadhead it completely, and always let some spikes go to seed.

I have a spot for delphs and just add to it every year. I do notice that some of my favs disappear now and again, I assume they outlive their short lives. The ones I really like, which are hard for me to find, are the deep blue with an almost black eye. So vivid. I'm fairly certain this guy is in flower-heaven:

Awww. So pretty. I do not have any luck with them. Or limited, so I just admire others.