How to Grow Aquilegia
Barlow Mixed from Seed
The cutting garden columbine — fully double spurless pompom flowers in a rich palette of blues, violets, raspberry and white on tall 70–90cm stems, with a seven to ten day vase life that makes them exceptional cut flowers
Most gardeners' mental image of aquilegia is the classic nodding, spurred flower in blue and white — the traditional Granny's Bonnet of cottage gardens for centuries. The Barlow series turns this image on its head. Barlow aquilegias are spurless — the spurs have been bred out entirely — and instead of the elegant, nodding, single flower of a traditional columbine, each bloom is a fully double pompom of tightly packed petals, ranging from 4 to 5cm across. They look more like miniature dahlias or pompom chrysanthemums than anything conventionally aquilegia-like, and they are magnificent.
The Barlow series was originally developed for the cut flower industry, which explains several characteristics that make it unusually useful in the garden and cutting patch: stronger, taller stems (70–90cm rather than the 40–60cm of many garden varieties), larger flowers, and exceptional vase life of seven to ten days. Barlow Mixed brings the full range of the series together in a single packet — deep blues and violets, raspberry and carmine pinks, whites, soft lavenders and all the gradations between — creating a cottage garden palette of extraordinary richness and variety.
Quick Facts at a Glance
Plant Type
Hardy Perennial (H7)
Sowing Time
Jan–May · Sep (cold stratify recommended)
Flowering Months
May – June (year 2)
Position
Sun to partial shade
Height & Spread
70–90cm · 40cm
Difficulty Rating
3 out of 5 — Moderate
Understanding the Plant
Aquilegia vulgaris var. stellata is the botanical designation for all the Barlow varieties — the stellata indicates the spurless, star-shaped flower form created by the pointed, spreading sepals and petals that replace the conventional spurred structure. The individual Barlow varieties (Blue Barlow, Nora Barlow, Rose Barlow, Black Barlow and so on) were all developed from this group, and Barlow Mixed brings them together in a single sowing.
Like all aquilegias, Barlow varieties are short-lived perennials — typically flowering at their best in years two and three, then declining. This sounds like a limitation but in practice it rarely matters, because Barlow aquilegias self-seed readily and consistently, and the volunteer seedlings that appear around the parent plants provide a constant renewal of the planting. A patch of Barlow Mixed established for several years develops into an ever-changing, gently wandering colony of colours — the self-seeded offspring inevitably crossing and producing new colour combinations while maintaining the double pompom flower form.
Bred for Cutting — What This Means in Practice
The Barlow series was developed specifically for commercial cut flower production, which is why the stems reach 70–90cm rather than the 40–60cm of most garden columbines. These are genuinely cutting-quality stems — long enough to use in proper arrangements without feeling stubby. Combined with the seven to ten day vase life and the striking pompom flower form, Barlow Mixed is one of the best value cutting garden perennials available from seed, providing two to three weeks of cutting material in late May and June when the cutting garden is transitioning from spring to summer and many annuals have not yet come into flower.
When & How to Sow
Aquilegia seed is photoblastic and requires light to germinate. The critical additional requirement that distinguishes aquilegia from most other perennials is cold stratification — a period of cool temperature that mimics winter and breaks seed dormancy. Without stratification, germination is slow and highly erratic. With it, germination is significantly faster and more uniform.
The Stratification Shortcut
Place the sealed seed packet in the salad drawer of the fridge for two to four weeks before sowing. This replicates the cold stratification that aquilegia seed needs naturally and dramatically improves germination speed and uniformity. The simplest approach of all is to sow into pots in September and leave them outside over winter — the natural cold and freeze-thaw cycles do the stratification work for you, and seedlings appear in spring ready to plant out. Either approach works; the fridge is quicker, the outdoor winter sowing is simpler.
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Stratify the seed before sowing. Place the packet in the fridge for two to four weeks, or plan to sow in September and leave outside over winter. Without stratification, germination from spring sowings can take 30 days or more and be highly variable.
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Surface sow onto fine, moist seed compost. Do not cover with compost — light is required for germination. A fine dusting of grit or vermiculite (2mm) is permissible to help retain moisture around the seed. Firm the surface gently before sowing.
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Keep at 15–21°C. Not as demanding as antirrhinum or agastache, but consistent moderate warmth improves germination. Germination typically takes 14–30 days with stratified seed; without stratification it can take 30–90 days.
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Prick out into individual 7cm pots once large enough. Aquilegia seedlings are small but robust. Handle by the leaf and pot into multipurpose compost. Grow on in cool, bright conditions — aquilegia prefers cooler growing conditions than many annuals.
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Plant out in autumn or spring. Late summer sowings planted out in autumn establish over winter and flower the following May or June. Spring sowings planted out after hardening off flower in their second season. Space 30–40cm apart in sun or partial shade.
Growing On Tips
Sun or Shade
Barlow Mixed performs well in full sun to partial shade — one of the most adaptable spring perennials available. In full sun it produces the richest colour and the strongest stems. In partial shade (up to four hours of direct sun) it still flowers well and the colours often appear more vivid against darker backgrounds. Avoid deep shade.
Moisture
Aquilegia prefers consistently moist, fertile, well-drained soil. It tolerates short dry periods but dislikes prolonged drought, which causes early decline of the short-lived plants. Mulch around established plants in spring to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Avoid waterlogged soil, which causes crown rot.
After Flowering
Cut back flowering stems after blooming to encourage a second, lighter flush and to prevent excessive self-seeding. Leave some seed heads if you want self-seeding — which is the key to a self-renewing colony. The ferny, grey-green foliage remains attractive through summer and provides good ground cover until it dies back in autumn.
Self-Seeding Colony
Allowing Barlow Mixed to self-seed is one of the most rewarding things about growing it. Volunteer seedlings appear in late summer or autumn around the parent plants, overwintering as small rosettes and flowering the following year. The colour combinations produced by self-crossing are often beautiful and always interesting — the double pompom form is consistent even in self-seeded offspring.
Short-Lived — Plan Ahead
Individual Barlow plants typically live three to four years, peaking in their second and third year. Rather than viewing this as a problem, plan for it — allow self-seeding, take note of the best-performing colours and collect seed from those, and sow fresh seed every two to three years to supplement the self-seeded colony. The combination of self-seeding and periodic fresh sowings keeps the planting perpetually vigorous.
Leaf Miner
Aquilegia leaf miner is one of the most common problems — white or brown tunnels through the leaf caused by fly larvae feeding between the leaf surfaces. Cut off and destroy affected leaves promptly. On established plants this is cosmetic rather than seriously damaging. On young plants in their first year it is more significant — inspect regularly from April onwards and act promptly.
Common Problems & How to Fix Them
| Problem | Likely Cause | What to Do |
|---|---|---|
| No or very slow germination | Seed not stratified | Aquilegia seed requires a cold period to break dormancy. Refrigerate the seed for two to four weeks before sowing, or sow in autumn and allow natural winter stratification. Without cold treatment, germination from spring sowings is often 30+ days and many seeds may not germinate at all. |
| No flowers in first year | Normal perennial behaviour | Aquilegia is a true perennial — it establishes in year one and flowers in year two. First-year plants focus entirely on root development and do not flower. This is expected and normal. Year two flowering from a well-established plant is generous and beautiful. |
| Leaf miner damage | Aquilegia leaf miner fly larvae | Remove affected leaves and destroy immediately. Do not compost. On established plants, damage is cosmetic. Inspect regularly from April and act promptly on young plants. Some gardeners cut the entire plant back to the crown after flowering, which removes mined foliage and allows fresh new growth. |
| Plants dying after three years | Natural lifespan | Aquilegia is short-lived — three to four years is typical. Allow self-seeding to provide replacement plants. Sow fresh seed every two to three years. This is not failure; it is simply the life cycle of the plant. |
| Colour variations in self-seeded plants | Natural cross-pollination | Aquilegias cross-pollinate freely and self-seeded offspring produce their own unique colour combinations. The double pompom form is generally maintained, but colour may differ from the parent. This variation is one of the most delightful qualities of a self-seeding aquilegia colony — embrace it rather than fighting it. |
| Powdery mildew in late summer | Dry conditions and age | Common on older plants and in dry summers. Water at the base consistently. Cut back affected foliage. In many cases, powdery mildew signals that the plant is nearing the end of its lifespan — the self-seeded replacement plants nearby are likely already established and ready to take over. |
When to Expect Flowers
Aquilegia Barlow Mixed sown in spring or summer flowers in its second season — typically May and June of the year following sowing. Plants sown in summer or early autumn and overwintered establish more strongly and often flower earlier and more generously in their first flowering season. The natural flowering window is May and June, filling the gap between the last of the spring bulbs and the main flush of summer perennials — a period when the cutting garden can feel relatively sparse, making the contribution of Barlow Mixed particularly valuable.
Sow in spring or summer for flowers the following May and June — cold stratification dramatically improves germination. Self-seeding plants provide a permanent colony that renews itself naturally.
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Plant Specifications
The cutting garden columbine that rewrites the rulebook
Aquilegia Barlow Mixed is aquilegia reimagined for the cutting patch — tall enough to cut properly, long-lasting enough to use professionally, beautiful enough in its fully double pompom form to stop anyone in their tracks. Sow with prior cold stratification for fast, reliable germination, allow self-seeding to establish a permanent colony, and discover why these double-flowered Barlows have become one of the most sought-after spring perennials for cottage garden cutting gardens. The seed. The stratification. The patience. The reward is extraordinary.
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