Aquilegia vulgaris var. stellata ‘Black Barlow’ (Columbine)

Bred for cut flower production, Aquilegia vulgaris var. stellata ‘Black Barlow’ is particularly beautiful with its fully double, upward facing, spurless, dark plum-purple (almost black) blooms, resembling starry pompons, in late spring to early summer. Rising with natural grace above a ferny foliage of gray-green divided leaves, each plant produces 3 to 5 stems in the first year and 5 to 10 stems in the second year.

‘Black Barlow’ is a cultivar of the Barlow Series, which is noted for being the first Aquilegia vulgaris series with fully double, spurless flowers. Other Barlow varieties include Aquilegia ‘Blue Barlow’, Aquilegia ‘Nora Barlow’, Aquilegia ‘Rose Barlow’, and Aquilegia ‘Bordeaux Barlow’. They all are lovely additions to the shade garden!

• Grows in a bushy, upright clump up to 28-30 in. high (70-75 cm) and spreads 16-20 in. (40-50 cm). This perennial is generally short-lived but will self-seed prolifically to form large colonies in satisfactory growing conditions.
• Performs best in full sun to part shade, in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils. Seriously dislikes poorly drained soils! Rich, moist soils in part shade are preferred. Do not let the soil dry out.
• Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies, but is ignored by rabbits and deer!
• Easy to grow, this plant is a welcomed addition to beds, borders, rock gardens, cottage gardens, shade gardens, or naturalized areas. Excellent cut flowers lasting up to 2 weeks in a vase!
• Susceptible to leaf miner.
• May be grown from seed sown directly in the garden in spring (after the danger of frost has passed). The division is possible in spring, but it may take some time for the plant to recover.
• Remove faded flowering stems to promote additional bloom. Cut to the ground when the foliage declines (around midsummer).
• Contact with the sap may irritate the skin

Aquilegia is a genus of clump-forming, short-lived perennials noted for their late spring to midsummer blooms of single or double, short-spurred or spurless flowers, in a variety of colors ranging from blue to violet to white to pink to red. A classic element of herbaceous borders, Columbines mix beautifully with peonies, irises, alliums, and roses.