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Aquilegia ecalcarata

 
Aquilegia ecalcarata
spurless columbine
Aquilegia ecalcarata

Synonym(s) Semiaquilegia ecalcarata
Common name spurless columbine
Family ranunculaceae
Life cycle perennial (Z6-9)
Flowers dusky pink-violet (May)
Size 12"
Light sun-part shade
Cultural notes ordinary garden soil, well-drained
From seed give 2 months cold, then germinate at room temperature
detailed seed-starting info below
Seed ripensearly July

Small upright plant with deeply lobed forest green columbine-like leaves, reddish on the back. Spurless dusky pink pouched flowers. Rock garden or front of border.

spurless columbine
In early spring it can be tricky to decide if newly emerging columbinish plants are last year's semiaquilegias, or random seedlings from common columbines - at least, until you learn to tell the difference. The leaves are similar in shape, but the purplish stems and splayed-open appearance of the spurless ones aren't too hard to recognize.
Aquilegia ecalcarata

We left this plant behind in our Pennsylvania garden (and wish it well); we don't grow it in Houston.

Seed for this plant is included on my seed trade list

About my plant portraits
PlantLinks to other web pages about Aquilegia ecalcarata


Seed-starting details for this plant

  1. Seed from '03 trade. Baggy 35F (2m) - 70F (75%G, 2-13d)
  2. Same seed as above. Baggy 35F (2m) - 70F (4w; 40%G, 6-20d)
  3. Seed from '05 garden. Baggy 35F (8w) - 70F (45%G, 3-9d)
  4. Seed from '06 garden. Baggy 35F (8w; germination started 8th wk) - 70F (total 85%G, 0-8d)
  5. Seed from '06 garden. Baggy 35F (8w) - 70F (55%G, 3-13d)
  6. Seed from '06 garden. Baggy 35F (8w) - 70F (30%G, 3-11d)
  7. Seed from '09 garden. Baggy 35F (8w) - 70F (68%G, 3-10d)
  8. Seed from '09 garden. Baggy 35F (8w) - 70F (58%G, 4-13d)
  9. Seed from '11 garden. Baggy 35F (8w) - 70F (82%G, 4-10d)
  10. Seed from '12 garden. Baggy 35F (9w) - 70F (72%G, 4-12d)
  11. Seed from '12 garden. Baggy 35F (8w) - 70F (48%G, 7-17d)
  12. Seed from '12 garden. Baggy 35F (7w) - 70F (50%G, 5-16d)

Apparently loses viability fairly quickly. It sets plenty of seed, so it isn't difficult to collect fresh seed every year.


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