Nora Barlow Columbine Seeds — Aquilegia vulgaris

A Cottage Garden Classic with a Whimsical Twist

The Nora Barlow Columbine (Aquilegia vulgaris 'Nora Barlow') is one of the most enchanting and distinctive flowers you can grow. Its fully double blooms are layered with narrow, ruffled petals in a delightful mix of deep rose-pink, soft white, and pale green — like tiny frilly petticoats stacked one upon another, swaying gently in the breeze. Named after Charles Darwin's granddaughter, this heirloom variety has been gracing cottage gardens for centuries.

Why Gardeners Love It

• 🌸 Unique frilly double blooms — layers of ruffled rose-pink, white, and green petals unlike any other columbine
• 📏 Grows 60–90 cm tall — ideal for mid-border planting, cottage beds, and cutting gardens
• ✂️ Wonderful cut flower — long-stemmed and long-lasting in vases and floral arrangements
• 🐝 Attracts bees and beneficial insects — a valuable addition to any NZ pollinator garden
• 🌱 Easy to grow from seed — self-seeds freely once established, returning year after year

Growing Tips for New Zealand

Sow seeds in autumn or early spring into well-drained, fertile soil in a position with full sun to partial shade. Cold stratification improves germination — sow in autumn and allow winter chilling to work naturally, or refrigerate seeds for 2–4 weeks before a spring sowing. Thin or transplant seedlings to 30–40 cm apart. Aquilegia thrives in NZ's cooler regions and performs beautifully in Canterbury, Otago, and the central North Island. Deadhead spent blooms to extend flowering, or leave seed heads to self-sow for next season's display.

What's in the Packet

Each packet contains 15 seeds of Nora Barlow Columbine (Aquilegia vulgaris 'Nora Barlow').