Aquilegia caerulea

‘Kristall’

WHITE CRYSTAL COLUMBINES

Aquilegia caerulea ‘Kristall’
WHITE CRYSTAL COLUMBINES

Aquilegia caerulea ‘Kristall’ has very large pure white flowers with long spurs.
Plus a delightful sweet scent.

Very large, pure white Columbines with long spurs

Blooms are particularly large, and the spurs spectacular.

Delightful sweet scent

Scent is unusual in the Aquilegia family, but it is an area that breeders are working on.
And ‘Kristall’ has delightfully sweet scent.

Prolific flowers in spring & early summer

‘Kristall’ blooms prolifically from spring into summer.
And is noted for being a particularly long blooming Columbine, as well as being scented.

Large, sparkling white blooms light up the shade

Plant Aquilegia caerulea ‘Kristall’ in Shade to ½ Shade for preference.
It naturally dwells amongst trees and shrubs.
However it can tolerate Full Sun in cooler climates, if it is well mulched for the summer.

Useful for drier shaded areas

And it can also tolerate some dry once established.
Particularly when it is given shade, which is it’s natural habitat.
There it can happily grow untended.

Frost & heat hardy

It is also frost and heat hardy.

Hardy evergreen perennial clump

Aquilegia caerulea ‘Kristall’ forms a hardy, evergreen perennial clump.

Useful for mass planting & groundcover in shade & under trees

With attractive foliage clumps all year round – ‘Kristall’ is ideal for mass planting under trees and shrubs where you want to create low-maintenance, easy groundcover.
Then of course it is a helighlight during blooming and scent season.

Low maintenance

Should the foliage clumps begin to look a bit scruffy – just chop them back hard and beautiful fresh green foliage will be back “quick-sticks”.

Rabbit & deer resistant

Rabbits and deer generally leave the foliage of Aquilegias completely alone.
Though of course a starving critter will take a chomp on anything – but they will certainly not graze, as they dislike the taste of Aquilegias.

Joy for Bees & pollinators

What self respecting bee or butterfly could resist those pollen laden stamens, so prominently displayed.
And those super-long nectar reservoirs – the spurs.
Long tongued bees, butterflies and moths cant believe the riches, while short-tongued bees etc just bore a little hole in the side of the spur.

Bliss for native birds too

Our dear little Honey-eating native birds, such a our Eastern Spinebills, believe they have landed in honey heaven and have tongues plenty long enough to get right down into the nectar-filled spurs.

Evergreen perennial clump

Aquilegia caerulea ‘Kristall’ forms an evergreen, perennial clump approx. 80cm High in flower x 30cm Wide and round clump of  attractive foliage.

SEED SOWING ADVICE:

Sow any time indoors in punnets, when suitable temperatures can be provided.
Or
Scatter directly in garden in autumn and winter.
Aquilegias germinate easily in the garden after winter chilling.

Sow indoors for quick & early plants: First sow the seeds in a punnet on the surface of good quality seed raising mix.
Because these seeds need light to germinate, so barely cover the seeds with sieved mix.

Now thoroughly moisten the sown punnet.
And place in a warm, well-lit position (not in any direct sun).

Temperatures of 15- 20C. are ideal for rapid and optimum germination.

Now continue to keep moist by misting with a spray water bottle.

Seeds germinate in 10-30 days.

However if there is no germination in 4 weeks, then it means the seeds have entered their natural dormancy.
So cling-wrap the moist, sown punnet and keep it in fridge (not freezer) for 4-6 weeks.
Then return to the well-lit position at 15-20C.

Seedlings may begin to germinate in 10 days.
But do not discard the punnet as some seeds will continue to germinate for up to 30-90 days.
And this is perfectly natural for this plant.

Seed Count: 50 seeds per pack approx.
(We always aim to exceed the stated seed count and give a generous serve).

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