How to Grow Aquilegia
'William Guinness' from Seed
Also known as 'Magpie' — the most dramatic columbine available from seed, with near-black deep purple sepals and pure white inner petals on nodding, traditional spurred flowers, bringing a dark elegance to the May and June border
Among the many aquilegias available from seed, 'William Guinness' occupies a category of its own: the darkest, most dramatically bicoloured granny's bonnet in cultivation. The sepals — the outer, spreading parts of the flower — are a deep purple so dark it reads as nearly black in most light conditions; the inner petals are a clean, pure white. The contrast is as sharp and as stylish as the magpie whose name this variety shares — the alternative name 'Magpie Columbine' captures the quality perfectly. The flowers are traditional in form: the classic short-spurred, nodding Aquilegia vulgaris type, each flower held on a slender stem with the characteristic curled spur tips pointing upward above the nodding bell.
At 60–75cm it is among the taller aquilegias in the vulgaris group, and the combination of height, dark colouration and the branching habit that produces many flowers per stem makes 'William Guinness' an outstanding cut flower. Placed in an arrangement alongside white anemones, pale green hellebores, or the silver-grey of artemisia, the dark flowers achieve an almost architectural drama. In the border, the near-black and white bicolour works beautifully against golden grasses, pale yellow roses, and the fresh green of unfurling fern fronds. This is an aquilegia with a distinctly sophisticated personality.
Quick Facts at a Glance
Plant Type
Hardy Perennial (H7)
Sowing Time
Jan–May · Sep (stratify recommended)
Flowering
May – June (year 2)
Position
Sun to partial shade
Height & Spread
60–75cm · 40cm
Difficulty Rating
3 out of 5 — Moderate
Understanding the Plant
Aquilegia vulgaris 'William Guinness' (also sold as 'Magpie') is a selection within the traditional European columbine group — the short-spurred vulgaris species rather than the long-spurred American hybrid types. The short, incurved spurs are characteristic of the species and give the flower a rounder, more compact silhouette than long-spurred varieties. The flowers nod downward on the stem in the classic Granny's Bonnet manner, with the spurs curving upward above them — a form that has been grown in British cottage gardens since at least the sixteenth century.
The deep purple colouration of the sepals is the result of very high anthocyanin concentration — the same pigment that gives red wine, blueberries and purple cabbage their colour. In 'William Guinness' the pigment levels are high enough to produce a tone so dark it appears nearly black, particularly in low light or when viewed against pale backgrounds. This is a genuinely unusual colour for a flower, and it is this quality — along with the white petal contrast — that makes the variety so striking and so sought-after.
The Magpie — Two Names, One Flower
'William Guinness' and 'Magpie' are synonyms for the same plant — both names appear in commerce and horticultural reference, and both are correct. The magpie connection is apt: the same sharp black-and-white bicolour, the same sense of elegance-through-contrast, the same ability to make a strong visual statement without relying on conventional prettiness. If you see 'Magpie Columbine' listed anywhere, it is this plant. The name 'William Guinness' is more widely used in UK horticulture.
Cold Stratification — The Key to Reliable Germination
Like all aquilegias, 'William Guinness' benefits significantly from cold stratification before sowing. Place the sealed seed packet in the salad drawer of the fridge for two to four weeks before sowing, or sow in September and leave the pots outside over winter for natural cold stratification. Without this treatment, spring-sown seed germinates slowly and erratically. With it, germination is noticeably faster and more uniform. Germination from well-stratified seed typically takes fourteen to thirty days; without stratification it can take thirty to ninety days or more.
When & How to Sow
'William Guinness' requires the same approach as all aquilegias — surface sow with light access, cold stratification strongly recommended, individual pots for growing on, and patience through year one while the plant establishes its root system before flowering in year two.
Isolate for Colour Purity
Aquilegias cross-pollinate freely between varieties. If 'William Guinness' is grown near other coloured aquilegias, the self-seeded offspring will be hybrids rather than true dark-purple-and-white. To maintain the distinctive bicolour in self-seeded plants, grow 'William Guinness' away from other aquilegia varieties, or collect seed only from isolated plants. Alternatively, buy fresh seed each season for guaranteed colour consistency.
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Stratify the seed for two to four weeks in the fridge. Place the sealed packet in the salad drawer. Remove and sow within a few days of taking out of the cold. Alternatively, sow in September and leave pots outside over winter — the freeze-thaw cycles provide natural stratification and seedlings appear in spring.
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Surface sow onto moist seed compost — do not cover. Aquilegia seed requires light to germinate. Press gently to ensure contact with the compost but do not bury. A fine dusting of grit or vermiculite (2mm maximum) is acceptable. Maintain 15–21°C until germination, which takes fourteen to thirty days with stratified seed.
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Prick out into individual 7–9cm pots. Handle by the leaf. Aquilegia seedlings are small but develop quickly once potted individually. Grow on in cool, bright conditions. Plant out in autumn or the following spring, spacing 30–40cm apart in sun or partial shade.
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Expect flowers in year two. Year one plants focus on root development — the ferny, grey-green foliage that appears is attractive but no flowers will come. Year two brings the first flowering, typically May–June, and established plants flower generously each subsequent year until they decline after three to four years. Self-seeding ensures continuity.
Growing On Tips
Sun or Partial Shade
The near-black sepals are most vividly dramatic in dappled light or partial shade — where the dark tones read clearly against paler backgrounds and the flowers are protected from bleaching in strong summer sun. Full sun is tolerated, but the dark colour is most intense in cool, partially-shaded conditions. A north-facing border or the edge of a woodland garden is ideal.
Moisture
Consistently moist, well-drained soil is preferred. Will not tolerate waterlogged conditions — crown rot is a real risk in heavy, wet clay. In very free-draining soil, mulch in spring to retain moisture through summer. Established plants are reasonably drought-tolerant but perform best with adequate moisture during the growing season.
Cut Flower Technique
Cut 'William Guinness' when the lowest flowers on the stem are opening. The near-black-and-white contrast is most striking when the flowers are freshly opened. Condition in deep cool water for several hours before arranging. Vase life is five to seven days. The dramatic colouration makes these flowers particularly effective as accent stems in pale, romantic arrangements.
Self-Seeding
Allow some flower heads to set seed fully each season. Self-seeded offspring will generally maintain the near-black-and-white bicolour if grown away from other aquilegias. In mixed plantings, offspring may be hybrids with other varieties — still attractive but not necessarily the same dramatic bicolour. The consistency of 'William Guinness' self-seeding is generally good when isolated.
Short-Lived Perennial
Individual 'William Guinness' plants typically live three to four years, peaking in their second and third years. Allow self-seeding for natural replacement, and sow fresh seed every two to three years to supplement the colony. Deadhead any cross-pollinated hybrids with unwanted colours before they set seed, to maintain the bicolour character of the planting.
Leaf Miner
Aquilegia leaf miner — white or brown tunnelling in the leaves — is the most common problem. Remove affected leaves promptly and destroy. On established plants this is cosmetic; on first-year seedlings, act quickly. The dramatic dark foliage of 'William Guinness' makes leaf miner damage more visible than on paler varieties — check regularly from April onwards.
Common Problems & How to Fix Them
| Problem | Likely Cause | What to Do |
|---|---|---|
| Slow or no germination | Seed not stratified | Refrigerate for two to four weeks before sowing. Without cold stratification, germination from spring sowings is unreliable and can take months. Stratification is the single most effective step for reliable 'William Guinness' germination. |
| No flowers in year one | Normal perennial behaviour | Aquilegia establishes in year one and flowers in year two. This is entirely expected. The ferny rosette of foliage developing in the first season is building the root system that supports flowering. |
| Self-seeded plants not bicolour | Cross-pollination with other aquilegias | Grow 'William Guinness' away from other aquilegia varieties, or accept that self-seeded offspring may vary. To maintain colour purity, remove any hybrid plants with unwanted colours before they set seed, or buy fresh seed each season. |
| Sepals lighter purple than expected | Insufficient shade or old plants | The darkest colouration develops in partial shade. In full sun the anthocyanin-rich pigment can bleach slightly, producing a mid-purple rather than near-black. Siting in partial shade or dappled light produces the most dramatic dark colouration. |
| Leaf miner damage | Aquilegia leaf miner fly | Remove and destroy affected leaves. Inspect from April. Cosmetic on established plants; more serious on first-year seedlings. Act promptly when damage is first spotted. |
When to Expect Flowers
'William Guinness' flowers in May and June of its second season. The near-black-and-white blooms arrive in the same late-spring window as all aquilegias — filling the gap between the last spring bulbs and the main summer perennial flush. From a September outdoor sowing, plants establish strongly over winter and often produce their most generous first flowering the following May. The cut stems make particularly striking material in the cutting garden during a period when dramatic, dark colouration is still relatively unusual among available flowers.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
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| 🌱 Sow (stratified) |
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| 🖤 Flowering |
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Plant Specifications
The darkest, most dramatic columbine you can grow from seed
Aquilegia 'William Guinness' is the plant that makes people stop in a garden and ask what it is — the near-black-and-white bicolour so unusual, so sharp in its contrast, so completely unlike any conventional flower colour that it demands attention without competing for it. Stratify the seed, grow in partial shade for the darkest colour, be patient through year one, and discover in May of year two why this variety holds such a special place in the repertoire of every serious cottage garden grower. The magpie of the May border. Unmistakeable.
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