Delphinium semibarbatum aka Zalil

Delphinium semibarbatum is a perennial in the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae. It is known as zalil and yellow delphinium. Kew places its native range from eastern Iran to Afghanistan and Central Asia. Plants For A Future lists Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan within its range. It comes from temperate regions and is not native to Britain or Ireland. The RHS lists Delphinium zalil as a synonym.

This small plant reaches about 1.6 feet [0.5 metres] tall. Its spread reaches about 1 foot [0.3 metres]. It suits cultivated beds where its soil and light needs can be met. Flowers appear from May to July. Each flower has both male and female organs. Seeds ripen from July to August, after the flowering season. The supplied sources give no species-level details of leaf shape or flower structure.

Give it an open site with full sun. It will not grow in shade. It prefers rich soil that drains well but stays moist in summer. Sandy, loamy, and clay soils fall within its stated range. Yet heavy soil can cause plants to die during winter. Avoid ground that stays waterlogged, despite its need for moisture. It accepts mildly acid, neutral, and mildly alkaline soils. Plants For A Future lists USDA zones 5–9. The same source warns that survival is unreliable in cool temperate climates. It may also hinder nearby plants, with legumes singled out.

Seed, basal cuttings, and division offer ways to raise new plants. Sow seed in a cold frame in March or April. Outdoor sowing can follow in May. Keep the seed moist and shaded until it sprouts. Germination takes two to nine weeks at 15°C. Higher temperatures can hinder this process. Seed remains viable for only a limited time. Store it sealed at about 3°C. Move seedlings into pots once large enough to handle. Plant them out in summer. Take basal shoots in April or May, before their bases become hollow. Divide plants in spring or early autumn.

All parts are toxic, and young growth poses the greatest risk. No edible uses are recorded. Traditional uses include remedies for pain, fluid retention, jaundice, and spleen complaints. External poultices have also been used for swellings. These records do not establish safe or effective treatment. Plants For A Future records no other uses and flags no weed potential.