Aquilegia vulgaris, Black Barlow (Columbine)

Description

Aquilegia vulgaris, Black Barlow (Columbine)

Aquilegia vulgaris var. stellata plena ‘Black Barlow’: Deep purple, almost black, double flowers on a strong grower and reliable bloomer. Flowers in late spring/early summer and usually again in late summer. Removing spent blooms will encourage re-blooming. Grows 24-30” tall. Thrives in sun or light shade and very attractive to butterflies. Perennial in USDA Hardiness zones 3-9. (Approximately 10 seeds per packet.)

Seed sowing instructions: Cold stratify for 3 weeks at 35-40°F in winter. To stratify, place seeds in dampened vermiculite or between moist paper towels, label and enclose in a plastic bag and refrigerate. Eight to 10 weeks before last frost, remove pre-chilled seeds from refrigerator and sow on surface of a good seed-starting mix. Cover with humidity dome and keep at 60-70°F. Transplant seedlings as they appear; anywhere from 2-4 weeks—be patient. Plant out after all danger of frost.

Starting Outdoors: Sow early to late spring, or in late summer in prepared garden beds.