Columbine typically starts flowering in April and May.
columbine
Aquilegia vulgaris 'William Guiness'
The Columbine (Aquilegia vulgaris 'William Guiness') is truly an amazing flower. Its bright yellow and blue colors make it stand out above other flowers as a show-stopping display in any garden. The blossom's distinctive petals curl and mix together to form a beautiful shape, while the plentiful leaves add a lushness to the plant. This cultivar is also very hardy and easy to care for, making it a great addition to rock gardens and flower beds alike. Not to mention, the delightful aroma that it emits will attract pollinators and hummingbirds to your outdoor space. Whether for its spectacular colors, easy maintenance, or delightful scent, the Columbine 'William Guiness' is sure to delight in any garden.
Cycle:
Herbaceous Perennial
Watering:
Average
Propagation:
Division,Cutting,Seed Propagation,Layering Propagation
Hardiness Zone:
3 - 8
Flowers:
Blue, violet, white, pink, red Flowers
Sun:
full sun,part shade
Fruits:
purple,black Fruits Ready In
Leaf:
Yes
Leaf Color:
green
Growth Rate:
Low
Maintenance:
Moderate
Care Level:
Medium
watering
Columbine (Aquilegia vulgaris 'William Guiness') prefers moist soil but should not sit in standing water. The best way to water is to give it a deep drink and then allow the soil to dry out between waterings. This means watering it every other day or every 2 days for the first month, and then tapering off to about once a week once it is established. Don't let the soil dry out too much in between waterings. If it looks dry on the surface, dig down about 1 inch to check the soil's moisture level. If it is dry, water thoroughly.
sunlight
The columbine plant species, Aquilegia vulgaris 'William Guiness', will do best with full sunlight during the day. It needs about 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight to grow and bloom optimally. However, this plant specie is tolerant of partial shade, and will do well with 3 to 6 hours of direct sunlight too. During peak summer months in very hot climates, partial shade may be beneficial for this plant to prevent heat stress. It is important to note that this plant will do poorly in perpetually shaded or dark environments.
pruning
Columbine (Aquilegia vulgaris 'William Guiness') can be pruned in late winter or early spring. A light trim should be performed to remove any dead or diseased material and can be followed by a hard prune to encourage new growth. Pinching off the tips of the growths will encourage bushier growth and can make the plant look more full. Deadheading spent blossoms throughout the season will also help to encourage blooms. Pruning should stop in mid-summer to prevent damage to new growth that will emerge the following season.
Season
Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Starts Flowering
Harvest Fruit
The best time to start harvesting the fruits from Aquilegia vulgaris 'William Guiness' is in July and August.
Hardiness Map
FAQ
Is columbine a perennial flower?
Yes, columbine is a perennial flower that blooms in early spring and can often re-bloom through autumn. It grows quite well in full sun or part shade and thrives in well-drained soil. It's a great choice for adding some cheerful colour to your beds and borders with its intricate blooms of pastel hues. Columbine is also quite a resilient flower and does relatively well in colder climates.
Are columbine flowers suitable for rock gardens?
Yes, columbine flowers are suitable for rock gardens. Columbine tend to flourish in sunny rock gardens with good drainage and soil that isn't too rich. They prefer rocky, well-draining soils and need little or no supplemental watering, making them ideal for rock gardens. The flowers of columbine usually bloom once in the spring and then again in the fall. The blooms of most columbine species come in combinations of pink, white, yellow, purple, and blue. Planting several varieties of columbine together in a rock garden can give you a beautiful, show-stopping display.
Could columbine flowers be used as ground cover?
Columbine flowers can be used as ground cover in certain situations. They are relatively easy to grow, and tall varieties will generally give you a nice low-maintenance spread of foliage, although they can tend to be a bit sparser than more conventional ground covers. Columbine also has the advantage of producing a beautiful array of colors such as blues, purples, yellows, and more. When planted in large groups and in the right situation they can even bring about a beautiful carpet of blooms. It’s important to be aware that columbine is an aggressive self-seeder, so if you don’t want lots of columbine in other areas of your garden you might want to deadhead the flowers or grow it in a container.
Is columbine a good companion plant for roses?
Yes, columbine is an excellent companion plant for roses. Columbine's delicate blooms and attractive foliage provide a wonderful contrast for roses, while their unassuming habit and relatively shallow root system won't compete with the more aggressive roots of roses. The shade of the columbine's foliage also helps to protect roses from the intense heat of direct sun, keeping them lusher and more vibrant in appearance. Additionally, columbine's brightly colored blooms make a perfect backdrop for roses, bringing out their colorful petals in an eye-catching display.
Do columbine flowers self-seed easily?
Yes, Columbine flowers self-seed easily. These plants have a natural capacity to propagate themselves by reseeding in surrounding areas and growing new plants each year. This is why they are often considered to be a natural garden perennial. As the flowers are pollinated, they form seed pods which are dropped as the seeds mature and are then spread around the plant. The fact that the Columbine flower is capable of self-seeding is beneficial to gardeners as it reduces the need to replant them each season, resulting in a fuller and more vibrant garden.
Is columbine a good choice for pollinator gardens?
Yes, columbine is a great choice for pollinator gardens. Having tall, showy flowers that come in a variety of colors, columbine attracts many pollinators, including bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies. The large blooms also provide ample nectar for pollinators to feed on. Meanwhile, the leaves of the columbine are also edible and can provide food for caterpillars, which will in turn attract more pollinators. Finally, columbines are easy to grow in shady areas and can easily be incorporated into garden beds or along garden paths. All in all, columbine is an excellent choice for pollinator gardens.
Are columbine flowers suitable for vertical gardening?
Yes, columbine flowers are suitable for vertical gardening. Not only are they capable of tumbling down a wall or spilling out of a hanging basket, but they also provide a dramatic pop of color to any living wall installation, from a tiny backyard wall garden to a spacious rooftop oasis. Low-maintenance and relatively easy to propagate, columbine flowers can create an eye-catching focal point in a vertical garden.
