When to plant Aquilegia in Temperate Australia

Temperate zone — applies to Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Newcastle and similar areas. Growing elsewhere? Cool · Subtropical · Tropical · Arid.

Raise aquilegia from seedlings sown in autumn from February to May, transplanting the young plants out for flowering the following spring. Barely cover the fine seed at just 3 mm, as it needs light to germinate, and allow 14–28 days for it to strike. This hardy perennial, also called columbine, takes around 190–220 days to reach flowering size, which is why an autumn sowing pays off with blooms the next season. Space plants 30–40 cm apart in dappled shade or morning sun. The cool of an autumn start suits temperate gardens around Melbourne, Adelaide and the Perth hills.

Sowing calendar — temperate zone

Green months are your sowing window: February to May.

Growing notes

Aquilegia is a cottage-garden perennial prized for its intricate spurred flowers in spring and early summer. It is genuinely hardy and often benefits from a spell of cold, which is why the autumn to late-autumn sowing window works so well in temperate gardens: seedlings size up over winter and flower the following season.

The most common stumble is burying the seed. It needs light to germinate, so press it onto the surface and cover with no more than 3 mm of fine mix, keeping it moist but not saturated. Germination is uneven and can take the full 28 days, so do not tip out a tray that looks slow.

Once established, aquilegia is easy but short-lived, usually declining after a few years. The upside is that it self-seeds readily, so let a few heads mature and you will have a rolling supply. In hotter temperate spots like Adelaide, give it afternoon shade and steady moisture, as full afternoon sun scorches the foliage and shortens its life. Watch for leaf miner, which tunnels pale trails through the leaves; pick off affected foliage and the plant recovers. Aphids can cluster on flower buds in spring, so hose them off before they distort the blooms.

Aquilegia at a glance

Common questions

when to sow aquilegia seeds in Australia

In temperate zones, sow aquilegia in autumn from February to May. The cool start lets seedlings develop over winter and flower the following spring. An autumn sowing generally outperforms a spring one for this perennial.

how deep to plant columbine seeds

Sow aquilegia seed very shallowly at about 3 mm, as it needs light to germinate. Press it onto the surface of a fine seed mix, barely cover it, and keep it moist until seedlings appear over 14–28 days.

does aquilegia come back every year

Aquilegia is a hardy perennial but tends to be short-lived, often declining after a few years. It self-seeds freely, so leave some flower heads to mature and new plants will keep the display going.

why are there white trails on my aquilegia leaves

Those trails are leaf miner damage, a common and largely cosmetic pest of columbine. Pick off and dispose of affected leaves, and the plant will push out fresh growth without lasting harm.

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