Columbine Collection

[Izzie]

If it stays in the 80s, they love part to full sun. Hotter than that, they wilt (but don't die, just look really unhappy.)
Hotter than that, I'd stay with part sun.

In shade, they just don't thrive as well. In colorado- you see a lot of them in airy deciduous forests where they get bright diffuse light, or full sun. Some in the more evergreen forests.

They're drought tolerant, but don't like to completely dry out for long- but don't overwater (as in, don't keep them soggy, let them dry a little). In my garden, they're growing in anything from really poor clay soil, to regular peat and compost. They're only perennials in the cold zones if they're in a large, deep pot or the ground. They form a really large tuberous (rhizome?) underground that they branch from, and can occasionally be divided.


If you keep pinching off the dead blooms, they continually bloom from dormant buds in the folds of the leaves/branches of the bloom spike.

I only have a few that grow true to seed:
According to Dave's Garden:

Biedermeier (pretty common hybrid)
PlantFiles: Detailed information on Columbine, Granny's Bonnets (Biedermeier Group) Aquilegia 'Biedermeier Group'

Songbird 'Bluebird' (another very common, well known series)
PlantFiles: Detailed information on Hybrid Columbine Aquilegia 'Songbird Blue Bird'

I have a Songbird 'Dove' that has unfortunately not bloomed yet- moved around too much. PlantFiles: Detailed information on Hybrid Columbine Aquilegia 'Songbird Dove'

I have a Cameo red and white (A. flabellata, it's a fan columbine) that has not bloomed this year either- very tiny hybrid, under 6". Plant: 'Aquilegia Cameo Pink And White Cameo Series' | learn2grow.com

I might be able to send off a few seeds later this season. I've never tried to germinate the seeds in my home before- our climate seems to do it naturally over the winter. I'd have to do research on how you'd do it in a warmer climate.

[Izzie]

Originally Posted by Tindomul

OMG, absolutely gorgeous!! I have only seen A. canadensis before. What a beautiful genus.

I'm glad you like them- I LOVE this genus.
With them being so common in CO, I'm always surprised that people haven't seen them before- not realizing that they aren't as common other places.

Where did you see the canadensis? I first saw it in the Japanese Garden at our Botanic Gardens.

[Tindomul]

It grows wild in Greenbrook Sanctuary, a little green space along the Palisades of New Jersey. Out of all the places, it was growing next to the public, and very smelly outhouse.
But I was still very happy to have seen it.

[UKCat]

I have quite a few Auailegia myself including Black Barlow, Alpine and a stunning all yellow one.
One section of the garden is given over to them, but I just love they way the hybridise themselves

[Tindomul]

I saw a yellow one at the New York Botanical Gardens. Got the seeds and want to grow some. How do I grow them.

[UKCat]

I scatter the seeds direct onto the soil now and ignor them or sow in a tray in spring and treat as normal seedlings, as they grow transfer to pots and protect from frost the first year unless planted direct into the ground.
They grow fast and will normaly flower in the first year.

[Tindomul]

Very kool! Thanks.

[Izzie]

Tindo- it depends what kind of hybrid it is, or if it is a species. If it's a hybrid, the seeds may be sterile, or not grow true to seed.

Here's an article about getting the seeds to germinate if you do not live in a colder climate: Colorado Columbine - Aquilegia - Denver Plants

[Izzie]

I'd be happy to mail some seeds from the hybrids I have that would grow true to seed, and my canadensis.

[Izzie]

Originally Posted by UKCat

I scatter the seeds direct onto the soil now and ignor them or sow in a tray in spring and treat as normal seedlings, as they grow transfer to pots and protect from frost the first year unless planted direct into the ground.
They grow fast and will normaly flower in the first year.

I just scatter mine as well, but I always just start directly in the bed. I've never had success with columbine potted.
Kind of cool, older established plants will actually have a really large, tuberous rhizome.