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Seed Saving FAQ

Columbines ~ Aquilegia

11 years ago

{{gwi:2110353}}Image by: wintersown
Coumbine Seed Pods
Columbines are beautiful flowers, there are many varieties available, bloom period is spring through early summer. Most do well growing in part shade and will tolerate droughty soils. They have a charming common name of Granny's Bonnets which they do resemble.

Allow the flower to dry naturally on the plant, the petals will drop and a pod will develop on the end of the short stem which held the flower. The pods are oblong, chambered, and have pointed ends. When the seeds have ripened the pods will brown and open at the end, those points split apart to create a cup or chalice-like vesicle.

Remove the pods, being careful not to shake or bounce them which can scatter the seeds. You should be able to hear the ripe seeds rattle in their pods when you gather them. Turn the pod upside down and simply pour the seeds from the cup. A few taps may be needed to remove all the seeds from the pod. The seeds are very small, shiny black, and similar in appearance and size to a flea.

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Canadian Columbine, Aquilegia canadensis
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hi how are you i would like some seeds for sasbe just let me no how much it will be thank you and have a great night bonnie
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Just to make it clear-the seeds in the list are my own seeds and I am only looking for Lagurus ovatus and Amaranthus tricolor seeds. Thanks :o) Robbi
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is this Columbine? (Aquilegia?)
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do you know what species of Thalictrum by any chance?
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Ancient thread, I know. But as I'm still searching for suppliers of this columbine, I have a few things to note: 1) I shipped 3 mature members to my mom in Wisconsin (I live in Missouri) without any problem at all. They all survived and have put in at least two full seasons with her now. 2) I found one site that says that "Carol Ann" and "Granny's Bonnet" are the same variety. I found a couple of sites that say that "Granny's Bonnet" and "Dorothy Rose" are the same variety. 3) The botanical name of all three is reported to be "Aquilegia vulgaris". But that includes many, many cultivars and flowers of many colors. Makes me wish I could find a reference to the different cultivars. I'd really like to be sure I'm truly getting seeds for "Carol Ann" since that's what I already have in the ground here (though a couple were crowded out last year and I fear may not come back this year). It looks like Swiftgreenhouses.com is selling them this year to their customers / distributors. (And I did recover one of the "tag-stakes" that came with my original set of columbines, and the address on them led me to that website.) But of course, I'm not a business, so I can't buy direct from them. They've got a "broker list" there, but those too appear to be wholesalers.
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