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Aquilegia vulgaris 'Nivea'

Oriental columbine, granny's bonnet (syn Munstead White)

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Mounds of divided, pale green leaves are topped with upright, branching stems bearing nodding, short-spurred, pure white flowers in early summer. ‘Nivea’ is a pretty columbine, and looks wonderful when planted in drifts in a cottage garden themed display. This ‘Granny’s Bonnet’ will happily self-seed to form generous clumps alongside other early summer perennials such as Paeonia, Digitalis, and Allium.

How to care for Aquilegia vulgaris Nivea:

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. Deadhead to prolong flowering.

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.
Flowering period:
  • Jan
  • Feb
  • Mar
  • Apr
  • May
  • Jun
  • Jul
  • Aug
  • Sep
  • Oct
  • Nov
  • Dec
Eventual height:
0.8m
Eventual spread:
0.5m
Position:

Full sun / light shade

Rate of growth:

Average

Soil:

Moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soil

Hardiness:

Fully hardy

  • InformationThis perennial dies back to below ground level each year in autumn, then fresh new growth appears again in spring.

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RH30002593
3 × 9cm pots
£22.99 £7.66 each
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RH30002583
9cm pot
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RH30007021
6 × 9cm pots
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SD30001157
approx 70 seeds
£3.99
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