Grow Mixed Aquilegia from heirloom non-GMO seeds for elegant nodding flowers in a variety of colors. Ideal for borders, cottage gardens, woodland spaces, rock gardens, containers, and pollinator-friendly landscapes.
Key Features
- Produces distinctive nodding flowers with graceful spurred petals.
- Mixed colors create vibrant and varied garden displays.
- Heirloom, non-GMO flower seeds for home gardeners.
- Excellent choice for borders, cottage gardens, and woodland-style landscapes.
- Performs well in full sun to partial shade with well-drained soil.
- Flowers can attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
Growing Benefits
- Adds delicate color and architectural flower shapes to garden beds.
- Mixed blooms create natural variation in cottage-style landscapes.
- Suitable for borders, rock gardens, and containers.
- Self-seeding plants can naturalize in favorable garden conditions.
- Provides nectar-rich flowers for visiting pollinators.
Seed Specifications
- Common Name: Aquilegia, Columbine
- Botanical Name: Aquilegia spp.
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Flower Colors: Mixed shades including blue, purple, pink, red, yellow, and white
- Flower Shape: Nodding, five-petaled blooms with distinctive nectar spurs
- Foliage: Blue-green, divided leaves
- Growth Habit: Upright, clumping, and branching
- Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil
- Water: Moderate; maintain consistent moisture during establishment
- Germination Time: Approximately 14–30 days under favorable conditions
- Sowing Depth: Surface sow or cover very lightly
- Spacing: Approximately 12–18 inches
- Growing Zones: Generally USDA Zones 3–8, depending on species
- Flowering: Spring to early summer
- Uses: Borders, cottage gardens, woodland gardens, rock gardens, containers, cutting gardens, and pollinator-friendly landscapes
Growing Tips
- Surface sow seeds because light can help Aquilegia seeds germinate.
- A period of cold, moist stratification can improve germination for some species.
- Keep the seed-starting medium consistently moist but not waterlogged.
- Provide partial shade in hot climates to protect plants from intense afternoon heat.
- Allow some flowers to form seed if naturalizing is desired.
- Remove faded blooms to encourage a tidy appearance and potentially extend flowering.
Seed Storage
Store unused seeds in a cool, dry, dark location. Keep them sealed in their original packet or an airtight container away from moisture, heat, and direct sunlight.
Unique Facts
- Aquilegia is commonly known as Columbine and belongs to the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae.
- The distinctive flower spurs give Columbine its recognizable appearance.
- Aquilegia flowers are especially attractive to hummingbirds and various pollinating insects.
- Mixed Aquilegia plantings can produce a wide range of flower colors and forms.