Aquilegia alpina

BLUE COLUMBINE

Aquilegia alpina
BLUE COLUMBINE

Aquilegia alpina is is the true blue Columbine. So beloved in Europe’s summer hay meadows.

It bears large, navy blue flowers on tall branching stems. So putting on a great show in late spring and early summer.

Aquilegia alpina is a long-lived perennial, but it is also a prolific self-sower. Producing a flock of babies around itself.
It is not invasive, but can always be relied upon to give some extra plants each year to start new colonies, carpet under trees and shrubs, or share with gardening friends.
Self sown babies of Aquilegia alpina remain relatively true to colour, as the blue gene is strong. However if there are other colours in nearby Columbines, then you can also get some lovely colour variations.

Aquilegia alpina forms a hardy, evergreen perennial clump.

It is frost and heat hardy.
And it can also tolerate some dry once established. Particularly when it is given some shade, which is it’s natural habitat. There it can happily grow untended.

Plant Aquilegia alpina in Shade to ½ Shade for preference.
It naturally dwells amongst trees and shrubs.
However it can tolerate Full Sun in cooler climates, if it is well mulched for the summer.

Perennial clump approx. 80cm High in long spurred flower x 30cm Wide attractive foliage clump.

SEED SOWING ADVICE:

Sow any time indoors in punnets, or scatter directly in garden in autumn and winter.

Aquilegias germinate easily in the garden after winter chilling.

Indoors: Sow the seeds in a punnet on the surface of good quality seed raising mix.
Because these seeds need light to germinate, so barely cover the seeds with sieved mix.

Now thoroughly moisten the sown punnet.
And place in a warm, well-lit position (not in any direct sun).

Temperatures of 15- 20C. are ideal for rapid and optimum germination.

Now continue to keep moist by misting with a spray water bottle.

Seeds germinate in 10-30 days.

However if there is no germination in 4 weeks, then it means the seeds have entered their natural dormancy.
So cling-wrap the moist, sown punnet and keep it in fridge (not freezer) for 4-6 weeks.
Then return to the well-lit position at 15-20C.

Seedlings may begin to germinate in 10 days.
But do not discard the punnet as some seeds will continue to germinate for up to 30-90 days.
And this is perfectly natural for this plant.

Seed Count: 50 seeds per pack approx.
(We always aim to exceed the stated seed count and give a generous serve).

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