Re: columbine

As far as I know, Gail, you're right.  They will all cross.  A.
canadensis will even cross with the hybrids.  If you grow it in mixed
areas, after several years, you'll find the true species no longer
exists...at least that's what happened to me...had to go out and buy
some new ones to start over as I would hate to be without it.

I've had the dark blue seed true.  Used to have some big stands of
it, but I see this year that I only have a few truly navy blue left -
the rest are starting to go purple, which means they've crossed with
the normal range, which, in my garden goes from nearly pure white
through all shades of pink to a dark magenta pink.

I find them to be rather short-lived perennials. Most plants lasting
for about 3 years, but seedlings are always coming on.  I simply let
them duke it out with whatever conditions and companions they end up
with.  Seems drifts of them move around - always a pleasant surprise;
much like digitalis...never really know who is going to be where the
next season.

For those concerned with keeping plants where they are originally
put...Aquilegia will do its best to confound your plans, if you allow
it to go to seed.  If you deadhead religiously, the plant will
continue to throw flowers, albeit smaller than the first flush, right
through the season.  Tried this once on one plant after reading they
would rebloom on some list and they do...but it's a pain in the
derrière to do, so I just let them go.  I also cut them back to the
ground about July - after seeds are ripe and the foliage goes ratty -
and they put out new foliage for the balance of the season.  I just
take bunches of stalks with mature seedpods and shake them over areas
where I'd like to have them - same with Digitalis and Lunaria annua.
Think columbine seeds are so neat - such a shiny black.

I have them everywhere except really deep shade.  They seem to prefer
light shade to part sun.  They will grow in any soil, but the plants
are bigger, more floriferous and longer lasting in good soil, I find.
 They demand good drainage - about their only demand that I can
discern.

While I've moved seedlings at all times of year successfully and
mature plants on occasion, I've not tried division...can't really see
where you'd divide that tap root??

Mine is a large garden, so I welcome re-seeders (if I like the plant
in the first place)...now, re-seeding weeds are another story:-)

Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@clark.net
Editor:  Gardening in Shade
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> From: Gail Korn <gkorn@BLOOMNET.COM>
>
> I believe that most varieties of columbines will cross with other
> columbines.  I grow Aquilegia vulgaris, and while most of them are
purple,
> an occasional plant will be white or violet.  Aquilegia coerulea
are mostly
> blue and white, but occasional plants will be just white.
Aquilegia are
> notoriously promiscuous.  Aquilegia canadensis seems to come true
from seed
> all of the time.
>
> Gail Korn
> Garden Perennials
> Wayne, Nebr.
> Zone 4
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