Growing Blue and White Swan Columbine Garden Seeds
- Taxonomy: Aquilegia x hybrida
- Other Names: Columbine, Rocky Mountain Columbine
- Seed Type: Perennial
- Sow Indoors or Outdoors: Blue and White Swan Columbine seeds have a wildflower-like hardiness and are most commonly broadcasted directly in the fall or just after the frost. Columbine seeds thrive from an over-winter frost, but will still bloom just as hardily if started indoors 4 – 6 weeks prior to the final frost of spring. Seeds will germinate in 14 – 21 days in full lighting and plants may reseed in the garden in optimal growing conditions.
- Days to Maturity: 2nd year maturity
- Hardiness Zone: 3 – 8
- Planting Depth: Plant 3 – 4 seeds ¼” deep or broadcast directly
- Plant Spacing: 18"
- Growth Habit: 18 – 24" tall bushy wildflower with a 12 – 18” spread of uniquely "spurred" columbine heads
- Soil Preference: Organically rich, evenly moist, well-drained
- Light Preference: Partial sun – Partial shade
- Diseases/Pests/Troubleshooting: Blue and White Swan columbine seeds thrive in cool shady gardens and will decline in early summer if exposed to long hours of direct heat. Do not let soil dry out, but do not over-saturate either. Columbine has no serious pests or insects.
- Color: Five deep violet petals with a white bicolored center
Blue and White Swan Columbine seeds have a wildflower-like hardiness and are most commonly broadcasted directly in the fall or just after the frost. Columbine seeds thrive from an over-winter frost, but will still bloom just as hardily if started indoors 4 – 6 weeks prior to the final frost of the spring. Seeds will germinate in 14 – 21 days in full lighting and plants may reseed in the garden in optimal growing conditions. Plant 3 – 4 Blue and White Swan columbine seeds ¼” deep and 18" apart in organically rich, evenly moist, and well-drained soil in partial sun to partial shade. Seeds may also be broadcasted for a wildflower appearance. Blue and White Swan columbine seeds thrive in cool shady gardens and will decline in early summer if exposed to long hours of direct heat. Do not let soil dry out, but do not over-saturate either. Columbine has no serious pests or insects. Blue and White Swan columbine seeds are perennials that mature in their 2nd year as 18 – 24" tall bushy wildflowers with a 12 – 18" spread of uniquely "spurred" columbine heads.
Aquilegia x hybrida, or simply known as Columbine, is a bushy wildflower perennial native to the 6,000+ foot elevations of the Rocky Mountain regions including Montana, Idaho, and down into Arizona and New Mexico. The genus Aquilegia earns its name from the Latin word meaning "eagle" because the bloom resembles an eagle's talon. Columbine is the official state flower of Colorado.