Aquilegia Barlow Mixed

Aquilegia vulgaris var. stellata 'Barlow Mixed' Granny's Bonnet 'Barlow Mixed'

Fully double, spurless, pom-pom blooms on tall 70–90cm stems in the full Barlow palette — deep blues, rich raspberry-pinks, soft lilacs, pure whites and bicolours — bringing the absolute pinnacle of cottage garden romance to shaded borders and woodland edges every May and June.

The Barlow Series was the first to eliminate the traditional aquilegia spurs entirely, creating completely double pom-pom blooms that look more like miniature dahlias or chrysanthemums than typical Granny's Bonnets. 'Barlow Mixed' brings you the entire Barlow palette in a single packet — Blue Barlow, Black Barlow, Nora Barlow, White Barlow and the rest, in shades from deep midnight to soft raspberry to pure cream. Bred specifically for cut-flower production, the stems are stronger and taller than most ornamental aquilegias (70–90cm), the flowers are larger (4–5cm across), and the vase life is exceptional at 7–10 days. Hardy perennial down to -20°C. RHS Plants for Pollinators recognised — the open rosette structure provides accessible forage for emerging bumblebee queens in late spring.

A note on growing

Aquilegia seeds need light and benefit from a period of cold to break dormancy. Sow from January to June or in September. Surface-sow onto moist compost and do not cover. Germination is slow and erratic — typically 14–30 days but sometimes up to 90 days, so do not give up too soon. A period in the fridge before sowing (cold stratification) can help. Maintain 15–21°C. Plant out into partial shade or sun, in moist but well-drained soil enriched with leaf mould. Aquilegia thrives in dappled woodland conditions where many sun-lovers fail. Individual plants are short-lived (3–4 years), but they self-seed politely and generously, ensuring a permanent wandering colony. Cross-pollination with other aquilegias produces unique colour combinations over the years — part of the cottage garden magic.

Where it shines

At woodland edges and in dappled shade, where the elegant ferny foliage and graceful flowers earn their place. As cut flowers — the Barlow series was specifically bred for cutting and the vase life is genuinely exceptional. In naturalistic plantings where self-seeding produces ever-changing colour combinations year after year. Foliage often becomes tatty by late July — cut back hard to encourage a fresh basal rosette for autumn.

Plant alongside

For a classic shaded cottage planting, combine with Foxglove 'Excelsior Mixed', Sweet Rocket 'Purple', and Hesperis. The vertical spires of foxgloves and sweet rocket complement the rounded pom-pom heads of aquilegia beautifully. For brighter shaded spots, pair with the woodland sneezewort Achillea 'Ballerina'.