Aquilegia Sunshine Seeds - Columbine

Aquilegia 'Sunshine' is a very attractive hybrid variety that forms gorgeous, large, bright yellow fully double blooms with long spurs from late spring to mid-summer. This hardy and easy to grow perennial has a bushy habit and attractive bluish-green foliage. Although it is rather short-lived, it self-seeds abundantly in cool, well-drained soil, preferably in part shade.

Aquilegia 'Sunshine' is a hybrid variety selected from the Blue Columbine, the Colorado state flower (Aquilegia caerulea). This North American species belongs to the Buttercup or Ranunculaceae family and can be found growing wild throughout the Rocky Mountains. 'Sunshine' forms a compact, upright clump that grows to a height of about 60 cm in full bloom, for a width of 30 cm. For 4-6 weeks from June to July, large flowers emerge at the tip of sturdy stems. They measure 5-7 cm in diameter, with a double corolla and long horned spurs. They display two harmonious tones of yellow: bright, soft pastel yellow and creamy, pale yellow. The bluish-green leaves have a lacy, delicate clover-like appearance. Aquilegias are short-lived perennials; flowering generally reaches its peak after 2 or 3 years of cultivation. Although they self-seed easily, they are not always true to type when different varieties of columbine are grown in close proximity.

Columbines or Granny's Bonnets have been popular ornamental garden plants since the Middle Ages. They will fit in just about anywhere, bringing a discreet lightness and fantasy to mixed borders and perennial beds; they are ideal for underplanting shrubs and trees, growing up slopes or decorating shady rock gardens. They are excellent cut flowers. In old-fashioned cottage style gardens, columbines combine well with perennials such as foxgloves, bellflowers, wood cranesbill, bleeding hearts or lady’s mantle.