There are vegetation that folks love, after which there are vegetation that folks hate. After which, there are these uncommon vegetation that handle to attraction nearly everybody. Columbine (Aquilegia) falls into that final class—a plant that appears universally admired.

I’ve at all times discovered columbine to be a very elegant plant. Its mild inexperienced, considerably fleshy foliage has a tender, nearly delicate high quality, but it’s surprisingly resilient. The leaves, usually in comparison with ferns due to their intricate, dissected form, add a sleek texture to the backyard even earlier than the flowers emerge. Relying on the range, the foliage can vary from contemporary spring inexperienced to a delicate blue-green, due to the waxy coating that offers some cultivars a barely glaucous look.

The Magic of Columbine Flowers

After all, the actual magic occurs when Columbine blooms. The bell-shaped, spurred flowers are in contrast to anything within the backyard, nodding above the foliage on lengthy, slender stems. The mixture of their form and their sheer abundance—usually dozens of blooms on a single mature plant—provides columbine an nearly whimsical, fairy-tale high quality.

Sometimes, columbine flowers seem in tender pastels, cheerful yellows, or shiny reds. However every now and then, a spread comes alongside that challenges every part you thought you knew concerning the plant.

A Gorgeous Discovery: ‘William Guinness’ columbine

This previous weekend, whereas working at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, a good friend identified a columbine that stopped me in my tracks. Darkish. Dramatic. Completely sudden.

It was Aquilegia vulgaris ‘William Guinness’, a columbine like none I had ever seen earlier than. Its deep, near-black petals create an intense distinction in opposition to the intense white corolla within the middle, making every bloom look nearly painted in ink. The impact is putting—elegant, mysterious, and fully totally different from the standard tender, cottage-garden hues.

It seems I wasn’t the one one captivated. As I labored within the backyard, customer after customer paused, pointed, and requested about it:

“What’s that?...That’s a columbine? I’ve by no means seen one so darkish!…I would like this in my backyard.”

Why Aquilegia vulgaris ‘William Guinness’ Stands Out

Apart from its beautiful coloration, ‘William Guinness’ has a number of different traits that make it particular:

• Peak & Kind: This selection types a lush clump over 2 ft huge, with flower stalks reaching as much as 3 ft excessive. Its top and dense development make it good for filling gaps within the mid-border, the place its darkish blooms stand out in opposition to lighter foliage.
• Lengthy Bloom Time: Columbines usually bloom in late spring to early summer season, however deadheading spent flowers can prolong the bloom interval properly into summer season.
• Pollinator Attraction: Like all columbines, ‘William Guinness’ is a magnet for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, due to its nectar-rich, tubular flowers.

Rising & Caring for ‘William Guinness’

Regardless of its dramatic look, columbine is surprisingly low-maintenance. Right here’s how you can give it the perfect situations:

• Soil: Prefers wealthy, moist, and well-drained soil. It’s adaptable however thrives with a little bit of natural matter blended in.
• Mild: In northern climates, columbine grows superbly in full solar to half shade. In hotter southern areas, it advantages from afternoon shade to forestall scorching.
• Watering: Whereas considerably drought-tolerant as soon as established, common even moisture will preserve it happiest.
• Self-Seeding: Columbine is a short-lived perennial however tends to self-seed gently, guaranteeing a pure, easy presence within the backyard 12 months after 12 months.

The place to Use ‘William Guinness’ columbine within the Backyard

The deep, moody hues of this columbine make it a incredible plant for contrasting coloration schemes. Some nice companion vegetation embrace:

• Silver or chartreuse foliage vegetation like Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’ or Heuchera ‘Lime Rickey’ to boost the darkish flowers.
• Delicate white or pale-colored perennials like Anemone sylvestris, Geranium sanguineum ‘Album’, or Dicentra spectabilis (bleeding coronary heart) for a traditional, high-contrast look.
• Different deep-hued perennials like Actaea simplex ‘Black Negligee’ or Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’ to lean into the gothic backyard aesthetic.

A Showstopper Value Rising

In the event you’re in search of a Columbine that sparks dialog, ‘William Guinness’ is it. Whether or not planted en masse for a moody, elegant show or tucked amongst lighter perennials for distinction, this selection calls for consideration in the easiest way attainable.

Have you ever grown ‘William Guinness’ in your backyard? In that case, has it stopped individuals of their tracks the best way it did at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens? I’d love to listen to your ideas.

–Rodney

Photographs: 99roots.com, planteoversikt.blogspot.com

Extra columbine posts and nice flowers to develop: