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Aquilegia Kew seed collection - sweet rainbows
marion mckay
Posts: 17
in Talkback
I bought Kew seed collection - sweet rainbows last year and was really pleaed that all seeds grew and flourished. Whis year all plants produced lovely flowers
However i am so disappointed that all the flowers on all the plants have their heads facing downwards so unless you acturlly lift the head you dont get to see the beautiful structure and colours is this typical of columbines?
marion
0
Posts
Most of them tend to face downwards, however the allotment plot next to mine has some lovely dark purple and white ones which look upwards
The "winky series" of aquilegia have upward facing flowers.
But you cant describe them as grannys bonnets.
I love the elegance of the downward facing ones - as Fidget says, they're the traditional 'Granny's Bonnets'. I have a few of them in pots on a wall so the flowers are at eye level . However, the other varieties are lovely too - they each have their own charms.
Beware, they're addictive!
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I currently have 20 dozen touchwood double pricked out into 3 inch pots.
I will bring some to Barnsdale, they are looking for a home.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
They're certainly addictive. I have some that point up and they don't look right at all
In the sticks near Peterborough
..probably not for the purist, but if you like upward facing flowers then the American 'Swan' series might suit... named after American states..I've got 'Virginia' and 'Alaska' so far, but would like to get some more... perhaps rather brash..but I don't mind that.. cheerful and colourful...
I've done both break23. If the plants are setting seed now then the seedlings will get established well before autumn and should flower for next year. You an also take the dry seed heads off and store the seed to sow in autumn or next spring. Aquilegia is pretty easy to grow, probably why it's so popular. I doubt your seedlings will be like the parent plant though so if you want a specific colour best to buy the seeds.
Yes division works and would make sure you get the same flowers. I suppose the best time would be after it finishes flowering and make sure the replanted bits don't dry out.
I either sow them straight away or about mid winter. I got caught once or twice sowing in autumn, they germinated very quickly and I had babies to keep though long cold winters (not last winter)
In the sticks near Peterborough