Aquilegia viridiflora, 'Chocolate Soldier'

Genus: Aquilegia

Species: viridiflora

Variety: 'Chocolate Soldier'

Family Name: Ranunculaceae

Seed Catalogue No.: 117K

English Name(s): Granny's Bonnet, Columbine

Hardiness: Hardy

Lifecycle: Perennial

Colour: Green, Purple/Lavender

Flowers: May, June, July

Lighting Conditions: Full Sun, Partial Sun

Soil Type: Clay, Chalk, Sand, Loam

Soil Acidity: Alkaline, Neutral, Acid

Moisture: Well-drained

Germination Instructions

Sow indoors. Sow onto the surface of moist well-drained seed compost. Cover with a fine layer of vermiculite. Do not exclude light as this aids germination. Propagate at 15-21°C. Germination takes 1-3 months and can be erratic. If germination does not occur cold stratify, move to 5°C for 4 weeks then return to warmth. Transplant seedlings when large enough to handle to 8cm pots and grow on in cooler conditions. Acclimatise and plant out after danger of frost has passed. Autumn sowings should be sown into 8cm pots and placed in a cold frame for overwintering to be planted out the following spring with 30cm spacing.

Growing Instructions

Ideal in any soil as long as it is moist but well draining. Water until established, then requires only weekly watering.

Cultivation Instructions

Deadhead regularly to extend flowering and encourage further blooms. Also deadhead if you do not wish to self-seed. Can be divided in spring if required but plants are slow to recover.

When to Sow

• Sow Under Cover/Plant Indoors
• Flowers/Harvest

Approximate number of seeds per packet: 20

Please note we pack the majority of our seeds by volume so the number of seeds indicated is only an approximation.