Delphinium Benary’s Pacific Summer Skies | Delphinium hybrida

Delphinium hybrida ‘Benary’s Pacific Summer Skies’ is a magnificent tall perennial from the renowned Benary’s Pacific series, producing impressive flower spikes in a beautiful soft, clear sky-blue shade.

The long, upright flower stems create a strong vertical accent in the garden and are particularly valuable for cut flower production and floristry. The delicate blue colouring gives Summer Skies a lighter, softer appearance than the deeper blue and violet varieties in the Benary’s Pacific series.

Benary’s Pacific Delphiniums have been rigorously tested for excellent flower and stem quality, producing long, impressive stems with excellent vase life.

Another important advantage is their FastraX perennial characteristic: plants can flower in the first year from seed without requiring vernalization.

Plant Information

• Botanical name: Delphinium hybrida
• Common name: Delphinium / Candle Delphinium
• Series: Benary’s Pacific
• Variety: Summer Skies
• Plant type: Perennial
• Height: Approx. 160 cm
• Flower colour: Soft sky blue / light blue
• Flowering: Summer
• First-year flowering: Yes
• Vernalization required: No
• Position: Full sun to partial shade
• Seed form: Raw seed
• Uses: Cut flower, cutting garden, perennial borders and landscape planting
• Vase life: Long

Beautiful Sky-Blue Flowers

The defining feature of Summer Skies is its beautiful light, airy blue colouring.

Tall flower spikes are covered with numerous blooms in a soft sky-blue shade, creating an elegant and fresh appearance both in the garden and in floral arrangements.

This delicate colour works particularly well in pastel, romantic and garden-style floral designs and combines beautifully with white, cream, blush pink, lavender, apricot and soft yellow flowers.

For florists, blue is an especially valuable natural flower colour, making Summer Skies an interesting addition to a cutting garden.

How Long from Seed to Flower?

Under suitable spring growing conditions:

18–22 weeks = approximately 126–154 days from sowing to flowering.

Summer Skies belongs to the FastraX perennial group, meaning it is capable of flowering during the first growing season from seed.

Unlike many traditional perennial Delphiniums, vernalization is not required for first-year flowering.

Actual flowering time will depend on sowing date, temperature, light levels and general growing conditions.

Flowers in the First Year

One of the major advantages of Benary’s Pacific Summer Skies is that you do not necessarily have to wait until the following year for flowers.

When seeds are started sufficiently early and plants receive good growing conditions, Summer Skies can produce its tall flower spikes in the same year it is sown.

No cold treatment or vernalization is required.

This makes it particularly attractive for cut flower growers who want to produce perennial Delphinium from seed within a single season.

Sowing & Germination

Sow 2–3 seeds per plug in a fine, well-drained seed-starting substrate.

Cover the seeds lightly with vermiculite or a thin layer of substrate.

Keep the growing medium evenly moist during germination but avoid waterlogging.

Once the seedlings have emerged, provide plenty of light and good air circulation to encourage compact, strong growth.

Growing the Young Plants

After germination, grow the young plants in a bright, well-ventilated position.

Water carefully and allow the surface of the growing medium to dry slightly between waterings rather than keeping the roots continuously wet.

Before planting outside, gradually harden the young plants to outdoor conditions.

Position & Soil

Plant Summer Skies in full sun to partial shade.

Delphiniums prefer fertile, humus-rich and well-drained soil with consistent moisture during active growth.

The soil should retain enough moisture to support the development of the tall flower stems but should never remain waterlogged.

Adding mature compost before planting can help improve soil structure and fertility.

Tall Stems Need Support

Benary’s Pacific Delphiniums can reach approximately 160 cm, producing exceptionally long flower stems.

For this reason, staking or support netting is recommended, especially when plants are grown for professional cut flower production.

Supporting the plants early helps produce straighter stems and reduces the risk of damage from strong wind or heavy rain.

Watering & Feeding

Maintain consistent moisture during active growth and especially while flower stems are developing.

During dry periods, water deeply and thoroughly rather than frequently applying small amounts of water.

Delphiniums appreciate fertile soil and balanced nutrition. Avoid excessive nitrogen, which can encourage soft, weak growth.

Excellent Cut Flower Variety

Benary’s Pacific has been rigorously tested for excellent flower and stem quality for cutting.

Summer Skies offers:

Exceptionally long stems • Beautiful sky-blue flowers • Strong vertical flower spikes • Excellent flower quality • Long vase life

Its combination of delicate colour and impressive stem length makes it especially useful for professional floristry.

Plants can be grown for cutting in the field, under tunnels or in a greenhouse.

When to Cut the Flowers

Harvest the stems when the lower flowers on the spike have opened while the upper part still contains unopened buds.

Place freshly cut stems into clean water as soon as possible.

The long flower spikes provide a beautiful vertical line in arrangements and work especially well in large, airy floral designs.

A Valuable Colour for Floristry

Natural light blue flowers are relatively uncommon, which makes Summer Skies especially interesting for cutting gardens and professional flower growers.

The soft blue colour works beautifully in:

Pastel arrangements • Wedding floristry • Romantic bouquets • Garden-style arrangements • Blue and white colour palettes

It can also provide a gentle contrast alongside peach, apricot and blush flowers.

Benary’s Pacific Summer Skies in the Garden

With a height of approximately 160 cm, Summer Skies creates a spectacular vertical accent in perennial borders.

Plant it toward the middle or back of the border, where its tall blue flower spikes can rise above lower-growing plants.

It combines beautifully with roses, foxgloves, campanulas and other traditional cottage-garden perennials.

A location protected from strong wind is recommended.

Why Choose Benary’s Pacific Summer Skies?

Soft sky-blue flowers • Approx. 160 cm tall • Exceptionally long flower stems • Perennial • Flowers in the first year • No vernalization required • Excellent for cutting • Long vase life • Beautiful colour for wedding and pastel floristry

Perfect for

Cut flowers • Professional cut flower production • Wedding floristry • Cutting gardens • Perennial borders • Cottage gardens • Large floral arrangements • Landscape planting

Delphinium hybrida ‘Benary’s Pacific Summer Skies’ is an exceptional choice for growers looking for a tall perennial Delphinium with delicate sky-blue flowers, exceptionally long stems and excellent cut flower qualities that can flower from seed in its first growing season.