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Sunshine™ Columbine Seeds

Sunshine™ Columbine Seeds

Award-winning Double-spurred Beauty!

2 Reviews — Write a Review
(P) Pkt of 20 seeds
Item # 51045-PK-P1

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Welcome to North America, Sunshine™! You've already swept through Europe gathering awards and praise; now it's time to make your home in sunny to partly shaded gardens across the country!

These double-flowered golden blooms are breathtaking. They are held in the traditional "spurred" form that gives Columbine its botanical name of Aquilegia (Latin for "eagle" and "gathering" -- the blooms resemble an eagle's mighty talons!). These long spurs extend a full 2 inches beyond the blooms, sized just right for a hummingbird's beak and unlike any other flower shape in the garden!

The flowers begin in late spring in most climates and continue into midsummer, a very long season for Columbine but all too short to do justice to the majesty of these flowers! You'll want some for cutting, of course -- they look amazing in the vase -- and then you must have some to feed those hungry hummingbirds and butterflies. Then there's the impact of a large planting in a prominent position in the border . . . The bottom line is, stock up now, because you're never going to look at Sunshine™ and feel you're tired of it, not even for a minute!

Winner of the 2010 Fleuroselect Novelty Award in Europe, this plant reaches about 2 feet high and 12 to 15 inches wide, with finely divided, feathery foliage that keeps it attractive even after the flowers pass. A hardy perennial, it survives the severe winter weather of zone 3 and the drought of high summer with equal aplomb, and tends to be left alone by nibbling deer. All it really needs is sunshine and good soil drainage to flourish for years!

Start the seeds in your Bio Dome 6 to 8 weeks before last anticipated frost. (If you're using seed flats, place the seeds on top of the medium so they receive light. In the Bio Dome, they'll germinate either inside the hole in the Bio Sponges or on top.) Time was that you had to wait a year for blooms from Columbine seed, but not anymore! They'll take their time germinating -- a month is about standard -- but once they're up, they're off! You'll enjoy a full crop of these amazing blooms just a few months after sowing the seeds, and the lacy foliage will charm you long past bloomtime. Discover the joy of Columbines from seed with Sunshine™ . . . and while you're at it, try the "hose-in-hose" look of Double Pleat Blackberry, not to mention that old favorite, Origami Mix! (It's been our customers' choice for many a season now!) Zones 3-8. Pkt is 20 seeds.

Review Summary
(Based on 2 Reviews)

Overall Rating: 4.5 / 5.0

Reviews

Very Pleased
Garden Guy from BC wrote on January 22, 2013

Sunshine columbine is a beautiful, long-flowering success in my garden. They really didn't do much the first year and I was a little disappointed, but beginning in the second year they have been very floriferous and kept on flowering longer than other columbines I have in my garden. In my opinion, well worth the wait.

56 days later
lsenders from IL wrote on April 23, 2012

of the 20 seeds planted, 11 have germinated. Two germinated within days while two have only recently sprouted! 1 1/2" high with 2nd leave lets, 5 plants look healthy. The later germinating seeds are weak. More time required to judge the merit of this plant.

Aquilegia Germination Information

Aquilegia is the botanical name for Columbine
Aquilegia Seed Germination How to Sow Aquilegia:
  • Sow seeds indoors at a temperature of 68-70°, with no covering
  • Expect germination in 15-20 days
  • Seeds can also be sown outdoors after danger of frost is passed
  • Sow anytime from spring through summer, up to two months before first frost. Sowing in early spring is the best time
  • Outdoors, germination is in 21-25 days
  • When sowing seed outdoors, we recommend a maximum planting depth of 4X the width of the seed

How to Grow Aquilegia:
Spacing:  Space 1-2 feet apart in light shade

Soil: Site in a rich, moist, well-drained soil. Keep well watered and feed monthly

Temperature:  These plants will be tolerant of full sun as long as adequate moisture is provided; they will not tolerate sunny, hot, dry conditions and they prefer climates with cool summers

Transplant: Do not transplant as they resent being disturbed but if need to transplant, do so when there are at least two sets of true leaves

Appearance and Use:

These denizens of borders and rock gardens also render interesting flowers for fresh cut use. The unique, 11/2 -4 inch long, red, pink, yellow, blue, lavender, or white flowers are reminiscent of hoop skirts, but with spurs extending behind them. Flowers are solid or bicolored and appear in May and June. Plant habit is an upright clump from 1-3 feet tall. T he dainty, blue-green foliage is deeply lobed. Contact with the plant’s sap may cause a skin irritation


About Aquilegia:
Pronunciation:  ak-wi-le’ji-å
Lifecycle:  Perennial
Origination: Ranunculaceae, native to the northern hemisphere
Common Name: Columbine

Superior Germination Through Superior Science

Park's Superior Seeds Park Seed's humidity- and temperature-controlled seed storage vault Park Seed offers some of the highest-quality vegetable and flower seeds available in the industry, and there are a number of reasons for this.

First of all, we have humidity- and temperature-controlled storage, and we never treat any of our seeds with chemicals or pesticides. Nor do we ever sell GMO's (genetically modified seeds), so you always know the products you're buying from us are natural as well as safe for you and the environment.

Superior Standards - University Inspected

Testing seeds against minimum germination standards To make sure we are providing the best seed product possible and that our customers will get the highest number of seedlings from every packet, we conduct our own germination testing and have quality-control measures in every stage of our seed-handling operation. We hold ourselves to standards that are at or above federal and state standards, including testing specific crops more frequently than recommended by federal guidelines. And in order to maintain our organic certification, we welcome Clemson University to inspect us annually to make sure our organic seeds, which are stored and processed separately, are being handled properly.

Hand Packed By Experienced Technicians

Park Seed has been handling and packing vegetable and flower seeds for 145 years, a history that has given us a great understanding of how each variety should be cared for and maintained throughout every step of theprocess, from collection to shipping.

When packing our seeds, the majority are actually done by hand (with extreme care!), and we often over-pack them, so you're receiving more than the stated quantity.

The Park Seed Gold Standard

Park Seed's exclusive Fresh-Pak gold foil seed packets And many of our seeds are packed in our exclusive Fresh-Pak gold foil packets, which are lined to keep moisture out, so the seeds stay fresher for longer. We carefully pack very tiny or fragile seeds in crush-proof vials to ensure safe delivery to your home. Some of the small seeds are also offered as "pellets" (have a clay coating) to make sowing and growing easier.

When it comes to the kinds of seeds we offer, we are constantly seeking something new and provide many unique and hard-to-find varieties from all around the world. Our on-staff horticulturists are ready and available to share their expertise to help you with the success of these seeds, so you can grow a beautiful and productive garden!
Does Park sell GMO's or treated seeds?
GMO freeIt is important for our customers to know that Park Seed does not sell GMO or treated seed. We do buy a small amount of traditional hybrid seed from Seminis, a division of Monsanto Co., but that is all we purchase from them.

What are the differences between organic, heirloom, and hybrid seed?
Basically, organic seeds are seeds that are produced without the use and exposure to artificial/chemical fertilizers, insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, and other chemicals. They have to be grown, harvested, stored, and handled under very strict organic rules and procedures. All of our organic seeds are USDA 100% certified organic through Clemson University and the certificate has to be renewed yearly.

Heirloom Seeds are open-pollinated -- they are not hybrids. You can gather and save heirloom seed from year to year and they will grow true to type every year, so they can be passed down through generations. To be considered an heirloom, a variety would have to be at least from the 1940's and 3 generations old (many varieties are much older -- some 100 years or more!).

Hybrid seed are the product of cross-pollination between 2 different parent plants, resulting in a new plant/seed that is different from the parents. Unlike Heirloom seed, hybrid seed need to be re-purchased new every year (and not saved). They usually will not grow true to type if you save them, but will revert to one of the parents they were crossed with and most likely look/taste different in some way.

What are pelleted seeds? Why do you use them? How do I handle/sow them?
Pelleted pentas seedsExtremely small seed such as Petunias and Pentas are shipped as pelleted seed to make them easier to handle and sow. Pelleted seed are coated, usually with clay, to make them larger in size. After sowing, the coating will dissolve when wet and the seed will germinate. Pelleted seeds are shipped in vials placed inside seed packets, which protects them from being crushed. When sowing, be certain to use thoroughly moistened soil, to be sure that the clay coating absorbs enough moisture to dissolve. For sowing pelleted Petunia seeds, place the seeds directly on the soil surface and do not cover with soil, as light aids in the germination.

What is ideal temperature to germinate most seeds?
The ideal temperature to germinate most seeds is approximately 70 degrees F; give or take 1-2 degrees either way. This would be a good germination temperature for most flower and vegetable seeds and would be the most practical and feasible temperatures achieved for gardeners starting seeds in the home. You will notice for some seeds that it is recommended to use alternating day (warmer), night (cooler), temperatures, which is fine if one can provide such conditions. But most people are unable to provide those temperatures in a home setting, so just use the overall 70 degree F recommendation and the seeds should germinate well.

How long should grow lights be kept on per day and how close to the plants should the light be kept?
For germination and seedling/plant growth, you want to simulate the natural day-night cycles, and as a general rule, grow lights should be on 8-12 hours per day and off at night. You can vary this timing, as some seeds such as tomato, pepper, petunia, impatiens, and others, benefit from 14-17 hours of light per day (and the remainder of the 24 hour period in darkness). The most common grow lights used are fluorescent; using cool white, warm white, and wide-spectrum fluorescent tubes. These lights work well for germination and for growing plants up to a transplantable size. Fluorescent lights should be kept close though, 3-6 inches above the soil or the growing plants, adjusting the height as the plants grow.

How long will seeds keep in storage?
Park Seed stores seed in a special temperature- and humidity-controlled storage facility, which keeps seeds in excellent condition. Our seeds should be good for at least 1-2 years on average. Seed viability and storage time will vary depending on the seed item; some will keep a shorter time and some will keep longer. Seeds should be stored in a cool, dark, dry place. A basement will do (if not too humid), or a cool, dark room or closet. We recommend the best way to extend seed storage life is to store them in something air tight, such as a plastic zipper storage bag or canning jar, and place it in the refrigerator. This will extend the life of seeds for many years.

What is the best way to store seeds over a longer time period?
We recommend the best way to extend seed storage life is to store seeds in something air tight, such as a plastic zipper storage bag or canning jar, and place it in the refrigerator. This will extend the life of seeds for many years.

What depth should I sow various seeds?
When sowing seed outdoors, we recommend a maximum planting depth of 4X the width of the seed. When sowing seed indoors, the planting depth can be less, depending on the seed being sown, so it is always best to check specific directions. Here are some general guidelines concerning planting depth in relation to seed size: Tiny, dust-like seeds need to be sown on the surface of the growing medium or soil, uncovered, as they need light to germinate. The planting depth for small seed can be anywhere from barely covering, to 1/8-inch deep, to possibly 1/4-inch deep, depending on the recommendation. Medium seed should be planted at 1/4- to 1/2-inch deep, depending on the recommendation. Larger seeds can be planted 1-inch or deeper, depending on the recommendation.

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