Aquilegia magpie

[Jeannine]

I bought a couple of T&M seeds yesterday, the rack to get the freebies if you bought two was empty so the shop man said I could pick from there...pointing to rack.. I told John to get anything, He got the one in the title but it is not a veggie it is a flower and I don't do flowers,I know zit about them other than houseplants and vines.

It looks very pretty and is perennial but the info on the packet is telling me nothing..can anyone tell me please, do I do it in a clump or will each seed make a big plant ??? Is it worth planting ??

It was quite expensive according to the packet compared to others I have seen so don't want to chuck it if I can use it somewhere.

XX Jeannine

[Jeannine]

[Isleworth]

Hi,

Took this from BBC G.W. Site:

Common Name: Columbine
Genus: Aquilegia
Cultivar: 'Magpie'
Skill Level: beginner
Exposure: full sun, partial shade
Hardiness: hardy
Soil type: clay/heavy, moist, well-drained/light
Height: 0.9m
Spread: 0.45m


A hardy, short-lived, herbaceous perennial with glaucous foliage and bicoloured petals, the top half of which are white and the lower a velvety, very dark, almost black-purple like a granny's bonnet, in early summer.

Pic from Google: http://www.glyndavies.net/aquilegia_magpie.jpg


Hope that helps ;)

[Jeannine]

Thank you, they look very delicate and small with lacy foliage which is not how I thought as the picture on the packet is a close up and gives the impression the flowers are quite big..such is the power of advertising LOL

Thank you so much..

XX Jeannine

[Squash64]

I haven't grown Magpie but I sowed a packet of mixed colours a few years ago and I love them.  They have just started flowering last week and when I go over to the lottie this morning I'll take a photo.

They are practically trouble-free.  All I do is support them if they seem a bit top-heavy and cut them down once they have finished flowering.  They often flower again if I do this.

I've just remembered that I took these photos a few years ago

[attachment=1]

[attachment=2]

I started mine off in a seed tray then planted them out about 9" apart but this isn't necessary as they self-seed easily and don't really need any help.  ;)

They are at the front of my plot and lots of people say how nice they look.

[grannyjanny]

One of my favourite plants. I love the dark ones. I think there's one called chocolate soldier, lovely.

[lavenderlux]

Aquilegia Magpie is a lovely Aquilegia, it will self sow but if you have other Aquilegias in the area plants from these may not be true - but you could get some interesting results - like 'red' or 'blue' and white instead of deep purple and white, which I have had from my 'Magpie' plants.  They aren't long lived perennials so may make sense to save your own seed and sow this for future plants, its best sown when freshly harvested.

[Manouche]

Hi Jeannine  I am a real fan of Aquilegias, the first time I ever saw them was when I was living in France. 
They grew wild all along a shady bank and amongst the trees in the lane just outside my house. The colours were stunning against the backdrop of green. It was love at first sight for me so pretty and delicate.
When they went to seed I collected some and sowed them in my garden and on returning to the UK brought a few seeds with me which now flower on my allotment. A little bit of the Brittany countryside lives on in Portsmouth. x

[Flighty]

I like aquilegias too, and I'm quite happy to let them self-seed and grow on the plot.  :)
[attachment=1]

[Jeannine]

mmm, you lot are going to get me ito flowers, if they self sow could I not just sprinle them in to some nicely dug earth or do I have to start them in pots.

I am laughing now as I have a big box full of flower packets that friends have given me as gifts, they forget it is veggies that I grow, I guess I should have a look in there too,,but the seeds are a couple of years old.. might just list them tomorrow, perhaps you can tell me briefly which ones are worth growing..

Thank you all

XX Jeannine

[macmac]

Aquilegias are my most favourite plant.I have several amongst them the Magpie .I love the fact that the slugs appear to leave them alone and they seed all over.I do nothing to my plants and they reward me every year by growing bigger and better  :)

[manicscousers]

just to whet your appetite a little more, one of my favourite types of flower, too  ;D

[Jeannine]

ooo they are pretty, stop it I have no room for flowers,,, do look good though...oh the pressue XX Jeannine