Aquilegia vulgaris, William Guinness (Columbine)

Description

Aquilegia vulgaris, William Guinness (Columbine)

Aquilegia vulgaris, William Guinness (Columbine): Dark purple-black outer petals flaring around white-rimmed inner petals on this striking bicolored columbine. Full bloom from late spring to early summer. Blooms are attractive to bees and butterflies. 20-24” tall. Partial shade to full sun in cooler climates. Perennial in USDA Hardiness Zones 3-9. (Approximately 20 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.,