Gro 'n Sell
Aquilegia
Kirigami is a fast grower with reduced vernalization requirements, making it a good choice for warmer climate growers and cold climate growers alike.
**We do not guarantee any specific shades will appear in Mix products, as the Mix is created by the seed breeder. It is possible that Mix will be all one color, or significantly different from pictured colors. If you need specific shades, please order straight colors as opposed to Mix trays.**
Grown in a 128 tray, billed as a 125.
Order 10 or more weeks in advance of desired ship week.
About Tray Sizes (please read)
210 and 125 cell trays are full-sized trays, and three of these will fit in a shipping box.
50 cell trays are half-sized trays (unless otherwise noted) and two of these are the equivalent of one full sized tray. Six of these will fit in a shipping box. These trays are long and skinny. (Think hotdogs). There are not compatible with 25 cell half trays. Scoop scabiosa, veronica, solidago, gypsophila, hypericum, herbs, some tweedia, and others are grown in the 50 cell tray.
*Chrysanthemums are grown in the same 50 cell half tray as mentioned above, but due to their height, they take up twice as much space. So TWO half trays of mums takes up 2/3 of the box.
25 cell half trays are also half-sized trays, but they are short and square. (Think hamburgers). These are not compatible with 50 cell half trays. Limonium and astrantia are grown in this tray.
Gerberas are also grown in a 25 cell half tray, but are tall that the others, and FOUR of these half trays of gerberas fills a box.
18 and 32 cell trays are full sized trays specifically for our vernalized perennials. These have their own set of shipping rules (find details HERE) and cannot be combined with items grown in 210, 125, or 50 cell trays.
Growing Guides
Click here to access all of our comprehensive growing guides.
| Common Name | Columbine |
| Genus | Aquilegia |
| Species | A. caerulea, A. vulgaris, A. x hybrida |
| Family | Ranunculaceae |
| Life Cycle | Perennial (short-lived, approximately 3-4 years) |
| Format | 32 cell plug tray |
| Plug Care | Transplant plugs as soon as possible after arrival. Water thoroughly post-transplant and maintain even soil moisture until well established; minimal care needed once roots are set. |
| Netting / Staking | Not necessary, plants naturally support their flowering stems. |
| Temperature Range | USDA Zones 3-9; benefits from cool-moderate climates and part-shade or shade in hot regions. |
| Spacing | 12-18 inches apart to provide airflow and reduce disease pressure. |
| Soil Preference | Average to rich, well-drained soils with slight acidity; organically amended soil improves health. Very easy going, will grow in most soils. |
| Day Length | Neutral. Full sun to part shade, depending on climate (partial shade in hot regions). |
| Pinching | Not Required |
| When to Plant | Transplant in early spring, around the time of last frost; fall planting is also possible to establish before winter. |
| Harvesting | Harvest for cut flowers just as buds begin to open. Cut long stems down to the rosette of foliage to encourage additional stems. |
| Post Harvest Care | Re-cut stems and immediately place in clean, cool water. Holding solution will maximize vase life. Store in a cooler for a couple of days if necessary. |
| Diseases / Insects | Monitor for leaf miner damage, sawfly larvae, powdery mildew, and downy mildew. Ensure good air circulation and promptly remove affected foliage. |
| Bailey's Notes | Aquilegia plugs establish rapidly into perennial borders. The Barlow Series, without prominent spurs, offers sturdy stems and double blooms with exceptional vase life (up to two weeks). Swan and Kirigami series, along with other traditional cultivars, provide nodding, spurred blooms ideal for early-spring bouquets. Regular deadheading extends bloom duration and prevents excessive self-seeding. If left to set seed, plants will self-sow readily and successive generations may not look the same as parent plants. Though short-lived in commercial beds, replacing tired clumps annually with fresh plugs maximizes productivity and flower quality. |
| Resources | N/A |