Aquilegia vulgaris var. stellata plena ‘Christa Barlow’

CHRISTA BARLOW COLUMBINES

SALE: Buy 1 get 2 packs

Aquilegia vulgaris var. stellata plena ‘Christa Barlow’
CHRISTA BARLOW COLUMBINES
SALE: Buy 1 get 2 packs

Aquilegia vulgaris var. stellata plena ‘Christa Barlow’ is in my humble opinion, the loveliest of all the delightful Barlow family of Columbines.

Quilled doubles of deep rich violet blue 

It bears quilled double “Columbine” flowers of deep, rich violet-blue.

With each petal rimmed with white & a silver-white centre

But with each petal rimmed and tipped with white. Plus a silver-white centre,

Columbines that look up at you

And these delightful puffball blooms look up at you rather than shyly nodding.

Prolific bloomer spring-summer

This very fine double pom-pom Columbine blooms prolifically from spring into early summer.

Cut flowers of delightful colouring

And also provides great cut flowers of an intoxicating colour.

Bred for commercial cut flowers

The ‘Barlow’ family of Columbines were especially bred for commercial cut flower production.
So ‘Christa Barlow’ is particularly long blooming, with enduring flowers of such outstanding colouring.

Blooms held in large airy branching heads for vases & garden

Plus the blooms are held in large airy, branching heads. Well above the compact clump of scalloped foliage.
So the strong, long, clean stems make them ideal to cut for floristry. Where they last for ages in a vase.

Hardy evergreen clump

Aquilegia vulgaris var. stellata plena ‘Christa Barlow’ is a hardy, evergreen perennial clump.

‘Christa Barlow’ is frost and heat hardy.
And she also tolerates some dry once established.

Grows happily under trees & shrubs or in the open

Plant ‘Christa Barlow’ in Shade to ½ Shade to Sun.
It is a hardy and adaptable, evergreen perennial clump that is equally happy to grow under trees and shrubs or out in the open flower garden.

Ignored by rabbits & deer

She is rarely troubled by any pests and diseases, and is ignored by rabbits and deer who dislike the taste apparently.

Adored by bees & pollinators

However bees and other useful pollinating insects adore the nectar rich flower with their glorious stamens rich in pollen too.
Although ‘Crista Barlow’ is a double Columbine, the pollen and nectar rich centre is exposed for the pollinator’s delight.

Approx. 60cm High in spectacular flower x 25cm Wide of evergreen, pretty, ferny foliage.

SEED SOWING ADVICE:

Sow seeds any time indoors in punnets whenever suitable temperatures are available (15- 24°C).
OR
Scatter directly in garden in autumn and winter.
Aquilegias germinate easily in the garden after chilling by the cold of winter.

Sow indoors for optimum germination & quick early plants: First sow the seeds on the surface of good quality seed raising mix.
Now pat gently to ensure good contact with the mix.
Then barely cover the seeds with sieved mix.
Because these seeds need light to germinate.

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

Then place the sown punnet in a warm, well-lit position (not in any direct sunlight).
You can use a heat mat if you have one to maintain optimum temperatures.

Temperatures of 15- 24°C approx. are ideal for rapid and optimum germination.

Seedlings may begin emerging as soon as 10 days, but may continue for 21-28 days.

However if there is no germination after 4 weeks it means the seeds are naturally dormant and require a period of chilling.
So wrap the moist, sown punnet in cling-wrap and keep in fridge (not freezer) for 4-6 weeks.
Then return to a well lit position at 15-24C for germination.
However do not discard the punnet as seeds will continue to germinate for a staggered period after the chilling.

Seed Count: 30 seeds per pack approx.
(We always aim to exceed the stated seed count and give a generous serve).

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