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James H. Schutte
Ranunculaceae
AQUILEGIA( SONGBIRD SERIES)
Columbine
The large eye-catching flowers of columbine in the Songbird Series are kaleidoscopic and the plants are sturdy and vigorous. These hybrids are derived from the McKana Group and Mrs. Scott-Elliot hybrids and were bred by Charles Weddle of Weddle Native Plants, Palisade, Colorado.
Like other hybrid columbines, these are hardy clump-forming perennials that grow from small slender woody rhizomes (underground lateral stems). This perennial offers clusters of gray-green scalloped leaves that appear along slender three-parted branches.
The intricate flowers are what make these plants so special. The big blooms have five large outer petals/sepals that splay outwards and five long tubular spurred inner petals that flare at the mouth. These are either white and yellow or bicolored in combinations of white and red, purple, yellow and pink. The many flower buds open at different times, prolonging bloom from late spring into summer.
Columbines are easy to grow and prefer full sun to partial shade. They grow in many soils but woodland species prefer evenly moist, organic-rich soil with good drainage. Plants tend to decline slowly and die after a few years. However, this is rarely a disappointment because they reseed themselves almost to the point of weediness, and new replace the old. The leaves often become disfigured in summer by the trailing marks of leaf miners.
Enjoy these colorful columbine in any partially shaded border. Their delicate flowers can be cut for arrangements but only last a day.
8 - 1
3 - 9
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Perennial
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial Shade
14"-24" / 35.6cm - 61.0cm
12"-15" / 30.5cm - 38.1cm
Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer
Hybrid Origin
Acidic, Neutral
Well Drained
Clay, Loam, Sand
Medium
Average Water
Clump-Forming
Spring, Summer
Showy
White, Yellow, Red, Blue, Pink, Sky Blue, Blue Violet
Bicolor
Sea Green, Gray Green
No
Single
Matte
Feature Plant, Mixed Border
Hummingbirds
Yes
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