Aquilegia oxysepala
Oriental columbine, granny's bonnet
A contrasting wild columbine with nodding maroon-red skirted and primrose-yellow centred flowers originating from Mount Konsai in Japan. A hardy, upright, and clump-forming perennial, Aquilegia oxysepala is well suited to colder conditions where its finely divided green leaves and slender, upright stems will reliably herald warmer summer weather to come.
How to care for Aquilegia oxysepala:
Plant Aquilegia in sun or partial shade in moist but well-drained soil. It's tolerant of a range of soil types and will often self-seed if happy, creating natural-looking drifts.
Remove faded flower stems to tidy the plant or leave them to self-seed.
Lift and divide large clumps in early spring and apply a generous 5–7cm (2–3in) mulch of well-rotted manure or garden compost around the plant. Divided specimens may take some time to establish since they don't like having their roots disturbed.
Remove faded flower stems to tidy the plant or leave them to self-seed.
Lift and divide large clumps in early spring and apply a generous 5–7cm (2–3in) mulch of well-rotted manure or garden compost around the plant. Divided specimens may take some time to establish since they don't like having their roots disturbed.
Sowing instructions:
In autumn, surface-sow on moist compost in small pots or seed trays and keep them in a greenhouse or cold frame at 15 to 20°C. Germination can be slow (up to 3 months) but seedlings should be thinned out as they grow on and over-wintered under glass before planting out after hardening off in spring.
Alternatively, spring sowing can be undertaken as before, often without the need for heat.
Alternatively, spring sowing can be undertaken as before, often without the need for heat.
Flowering period:
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Eventual height:
0.5m
Eventual spread:
0.5m
Position:
Full sun / light shade
Rate of growth:
Average
Soil:
Moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soil
Hardiness:
Fully hardy
-
This perennial dies back to below ground level each year in autumn, then fresh new growth appears again in spring.
Unavailable
Seed Packets (only)£2.99
