Columbine
Loved by hummingbirds and pollinators, columbine is a fragrant flower. Its splashy, exotic-looking flowers add elegance to borders, rock gardens, and flower gardens alike!
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Harlequin Mixed Colors; Leprechaun Gold |
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Aquilegia vulgaris |
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Intermediate to start from seed Easy once established |
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Intermediate |
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2 years if properly stored |
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Perennial |
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22-30 days |
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Cold Stratification |
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Surface Sow |
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24-36” |
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Seeds need light to germinate Part shade or full sun |
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Spring-Summer |
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February, March, September |
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No |
Growing Tips
4 plants per 20” container
When to Start
Intermediate to start from seed, easy once established.
Seed Pretreatment: Cold stratify 3 weeks prior to starting indoors or direct sowing.
Spring: Start indoors, 6-8 weeks before transplanting. (Early February for Jefferson, GA)
Fall: Direct-sow 3-4 weeks before the first frost in the fall. (Mid-October for Jefferson, GA)
How to Start
For best results, columbine seeds need 3 weeks of cold stratification before sowing.
There are 2 ways you can do this. One is to start cold stratification 9-11 weeks before transplanting. Surface-sow the seeds into seed cells, as the seeds need light to germinate. Place the cells in a plastic bag and place the seeds in the refrigerator for 3 weeks. Keep the soil moist but not soggy. Check on them periodically to make sure no mold is growing.
After the 3 weeks, place the cells under grow lights. This should be 6-8 weeks before transplanting. Then transplant after hardening off and the danger of frost has passed.
The second way is to let nature cold stratify for you. Direct-sow 3-4 weeks before the first average frost in the fall for your area.
Care
Space or thin plants to 10 inches apart. While columbine can handle full sun, it dislikes hot summers. In warmer areas (like GA), plant columbine in part shade. It isn’t too picky about the soil as long as it’s not too dry and is well-draining.
Mulch well to help keep the soil moist and weeds down. Until the plants are well established, keep the soil moist. Then only weekly watering is necessary unless there is a dry period. Regular fertilizing will help produce brighter blooms and thicker foliage. Deadhead to encourage additional blooms.
After the season, cut back to the ground. Columbine will self-seed. This is beneficial as the plants tend to be short-lived perennials, living only 3-4 years.
Seed Saving
Isolation Distance
Insect-dependent for pollination. Isolate 1/2 mile to prevent cross-pollination.
Instructions
Select healthy, robust plants free of any signs of disease or insect infestation for seeds. Seeds carry the traits of the parent plant. Choose plants that exhibit the traits you wish to preserve. Consider bloom size, color, and shape, as well as blooming time.
Allow the biggest and healthiest blooms to mature on the plant. Cover the seed head with a fine-mesh bag as soon as the flower petals shrivel and die. Use an elastic band to hold the bag in place. This prevents seeds from spilling onto the soil before harvest.
Clip the flower head from the main stem once the seeds are dry and dark. Separate plant debris from the seeds by removing the mesh bag, placing the flower head in a paper bag, and shaking to loosen the seeds. Seeds settle to the bottom of the bag. Remove plant debris by hand.
Features
- Blooms in Spring and Summer
- Attracts hummingbirds and pollinators
- Deer and rabbit resistant
- Drought and poor soil tolerant
- Good cut flowers
- Container friendly
- Harlequin Mixed Colors: Flowers are a mix of white, yellow, pink, blue, purple, and many bicolors too. They produce blooms earlier than other varieties.
- Leprechaun Gold: Heirloom. Hardy in zones 4a-8b. It grows in mounds 18 inches tall, and flower stems reach 24 inches tall. Blooms are a midnight plum color.
Columbine doesn’t care for hot Summers. In the South, plant in part shade and give it plenty of mulch to keep the soil moist.
Sources:
Edenbrothers.com