Aquilegia

sibirica

DWARF SIBERIAN COLUMBINES

Aquilegia sibirica
DWARF SIBERIAN COLUMBINE

Dont let the word “Siberian” fool you about Aquilegia sibirica.

More heat hardy than many

You may think it needs a lot of cold, but in fact this tough little gem is more heat hardy than many other Columbines.

Perfect for small gardens & pots

And is a tiny but robust grower, with large blooms on a very compact plant.
So it is perfect for small gardens or containers.

Blue ballerinas with white frills

Dwarf Siberian Columbine bears rich, pure blue ballerina skirts, with a frill of white on their petticoats.

Blooms prolifically & beams up at you like a poppet

It blooms prolifically from spring into summer.
And the cheeky little poppets look up at you instead of nodding.

Pretty blue-green scalloped foliage

Flowers float above a compact clump of pretty, blue-green scalloped foliage.

Cut for small vases

The stems are just long enough to make it suitable for cut flowers in a small vase.
Though with large and showy flowers it certainly makes a big impression in floristry where short stems can be used.

Hardy little toughie

Aquilegia sibirica is a very hardy, evergreen perennial, despite it’s dainty size and delicate looks.

Frost & heat hardy little toughie

It is actually a very frost and heat hardy little toughie.

Copes in dry shade

And it certainly tolerates some dry once established.

Perfect in shade

So plant Aquilegia sibirica in Shade to ½ Shade, Morning Sun, or even in Full Sun in cooler climates.
However it’s happiest place is bobbing about under trees and shrubs.
It is by nature a woodland dweller.

Group plant to make low maintenance groundcover under trees

So group plant to make a low maintenance, hardy easy groundcover under trees and shrubs.

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 the nectar filled, short spurs that are accessible to all comers.

Adored by native honey eating birds

Our native honey-eating birds, including our beloved Eastern Spinebills, find the abundant flowers on large, branching stems – very comfortable indeed.

Evergreen perennial

Aquilegia sibirica makes an evergreen perennial clump 30cm. High in delightful flower heads x 25cm Wide of pretty blue-green waxy foliage.

SEED SOWING ADVICE:

Sow any time indoors in punnets, when suitable temperatures can be provided (15-20°C).
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.
Barely cover the seeds with sieved mix, because these seeds need light to germinate,

Now thoroughly moisten the sown punnet by standing it in a shallow water bath and allowing the moisture to percolate to the surface of the mix from below.

Then place in a warm, well-lit position (not in any direct sunlight).

Temperatures of 15- 20°C. are ideal for rapid and optimum germination.
You can use a heated mat if you have one, to maintain suitable temperatures.

Now continue to keep consistently moist by misting regularly with a spray water bottle.
A clear plastic cover or bag will also help to maintain consistent moisture.

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 15-20°C.

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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