Delphinium - Ask Extension
My delphinium is growing this year looking strange. The leaves have striations of a lighter color. Could this be a healthy plant? If not, what might b...
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Delphinium #869384
Asked May 20, 2024, 11:14 PM EDT
My delphinium is growing this year looking strange. The leaves have striations of a lighter color. Could this be a healthy plant? If not, what might be going on and what can I do?
Cook County Minnesota
Expert Response
Hi Sarah,
I'm sorry to say this looks like one of the mosaic viruses.
Read the information on this page and look at photos 3, 4, and 5 on this page:
https://www.rhs.org.uk/disease/plant-viruses
You can keep the plant, but the disorder can spread. The safest thing to do is to remove the plant, sterilizing your shovel afterward before you dig anything else in the garden. A 10 percent bleach solution or Lysol home cleaning spray will do the job.
Sorry for the bad news. If you have any more questions, ask away.