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Columbine 'Lime Sorbet'
Seed Packet

Columbine 'Lime Sorbet'

Aquilegia vulgaris
A beautiful spring green-tinged flower with a full array of petals, a form once called clematis-flowered. Lime Sorbet is a delight in the awakening spring garden, its numerous flowers held aloft by tall, wiry stems. Easy to grow for a perennial, it resists browsing from rabbits and deer and welcomes pollinators. It thrives in well-drained soils that stay lightly moist, so some compost would be beneficial. Full sun to partial shade in the North, partial shade a must in hotter climes.
SKU #S1462
Caution: Poisonous. The purchaser assumes all liability related to the use of this product.
$4.00
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Details
Approximate Seeds Per Packet
142
Lifecycle
Perennial
Perennial Hardiness Zone
3,
4,
5,
6,
7,
8
Mature Size
2-3' h x 1' w
Sun
Full sun to partial shade
Soil
Rich, moist, well-drained
Season
Spring to summer
Color
Pale lime green
Features
Great Cut Flower
Deer Resistant
Attracts Butterflies
Attracts Bees
Attracts Hummingbirds
SOWING INSTRUCTIONS
Depth:
Surface sow or barely cover.
Sprout Time:
15-60 days
Starting Indoors:
Stratify for 3 weeks at 35-40°F in late winter. To stratify, place seeds in dampened vermiculite or clean sand, enclose in a plastic bag and refrigerate. Eight to 10 weeks before last frost, remove pre-chilled seeds from refrigerator and sow. Cover with humidity dome and keep at 60-70°F. Transplant seedlings as they appear; anywhere from 2-8 weeks—be patient.
Starting Outdoors:
Direct sow in fall or earliest spring, or wintersow into pots in the shade, covered with a thin layer of clean sand and a wire screen to keep out mice and voles. Check for moisture at regular intervals.
WHEN TO SET OUTSIDE
At last frost date.
PLACEMENT & CULTIVATION
Columbine attracts butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds; its spring bloom makes it valuable as an early-season nectar source. It is also deer and rabbit resistant and grows happily in the dappled sun of woodland edges or sunny cottage gardens. It spreads agreeably from self-sowing, although they readily cross with each other to produce many surprises in the following years. Cut most flower stalks after bloom to encourage rebloom, leaving some to drop seed and renew plantings. Trim foliage for fresh new growth after bloom if desired. Caution: contains some toxic elements especially in the roots and foliage.
Final Spacing:
1'
Water Requirements:
Medium Water Use
Watering Details:
Plants are somewhat drought tolerant but do best with evenly moist soil; about 1" of water per week, more in full sun.
Soil pH:
Slightly acidic to neutral
Fertilizer:
Mix in a couple of inches of compost annually.
Diseases & Pests:
A common pest of columbines, leaf miners damage leaves by chewing tunnels in the leaves. At first indication of damage, pick off the affected leaves and destroy or use sprays of Bacillus thuringiensis, a biological, to combat.
When to Cut for Bouquets:
Harvest when 1/2 of the florets are open.
Growing Guides Winter Sowing Guide
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