Aquilegia 'Barlow Mix' produces an enchanting mixture of fully double, dahlia-like pompom flowers in a beautiful range of colours. Equally happy in sunshine or dappled shade, they look especially effective planted in generous drifts, where you can happily cut a few stems for the house without spoiling the display. These ‘Granny’s Bonnets’ are a joy to have, and their early flowers are also an important source of nectar and pollen for hungry pollinators.
🌸 Flowering: May to July
📏 Height: up to 70cm
🌿 Perennial
Sow: during April, May or September, into pots or modules of seed compost. Cover with perlite or vermiculite and place outdoors. Germination usually takes 2–4 weeks, sometimes longer so don’t give up! A couple of weeks in the fridge (cold stratification) can help. Alternatively, sow in autumn and leave outside for natural winter chilling. Plants may flower in their first year, but often perform best from the second season onwards.
Grow: space plants around 30cm apart in sun or partial shade. Once flowering has finished, cut back the ferny foliage if it becomes untidy during late summer. Fresh new leaves will soon emerge to provide attractive autumn foliage.
Enjoy: these charming "Granny's Bonnets" are among the first cottage garden favourites to flower each year, bringing weeks of colour just as the garden begins to burst into life. Their unusual pompom blooms are just as lovely indoors as they are outside, while bees will be grateful for the early nectar and pollen.
🏡 In your garden
• City and courtyard gardens
• Cottage, informal and wildlife gardens
• Underplanting shrubs, hedges and trees
• Flower borders and beds
✂️ Cut flower
• Fresh vase life of around 7 to 10 days
• Strong tall stems
• Large flowers up to 5cm across
🐝 Wildlife friendly
• RHS plants for pollinators recommended variety
• A valuable early source of nectar and pollen for bumblebees and other short-tongued pollinators
💡 Did you know?
Aquilegias are wonderfully free-spirited plants and happily cross-pollinate with one another! If you are keen to maintain distinct varieties, cut down the seed heads after flowering.
⚠️ CAUTION
The seeds harmful if eaten. Keep out of reach of children and pets.
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