Columbines are notorius for inter-breeding, I remember reading that they were considered sluts by the victorians because they didn't sem to care who they "mated" with. I may have the details wrong, maybe it was the puritans, but you get the idea. Columbine seedlings need to be allowed to flower before you really know for sure what you've got, unless they're bred in a closed greenhouse. Not that you can't find a true cultivar at a big box, it's just a little more risky with columbines than with other plants. One other word of caution about bargain plants - don't buy a wisteria or a mockorange that way, you're likely to get one of the non-flowering types. The disappointment comes about 5 or 6 years later, when you realize that the enormous, vigorous plant that was such a bargain isn't likely to ever look like the gawgeous picture you remember from the package.

The small offspring can be planted now in containers and will come up as small editions of the parent.if you wish you can label them with the colour. next year you should get flowers.My gladdies are well advanced as I try to beat the real heat.asfor soaking i only clean the corme when dry and put in a dry spot. good luck!! chas

Thanks Bill, This is our favourite colour chas

Yes Tricia we havn't had any colours apart from shades of pink.I still have a few on the way and hoping for some nice yellows and red. at least we have had nice weather so far this summer so hope it continues.Our thoughts go out to all the people suffering in the floods in Queensland. regards chas