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AQUILEGIA SEED-LIST 2013 

2014 seedlist is likely to be online by the end of December 2013

Seed from the amazing National Plant Collection of Aquilegia vulgaris cultivars and Aquilegia hybrids, here in Swansea. Singles, doubles, bicolours, coloured leaves and scented forms.          Photo by West Digital       

'I have selected 15 packets, the choice was impossible if I had used a pin and blindfold I would have still been happy!!' Norman Clayburn, Tyne & Wear "Thank you for all the seeds over the last 2 years, I have had at least 99.9%success, that’s fantastic!" Mandy Walters, Dorset "Thank you for what will be an Xmas present to myself, which will last years and does not need batteries. God willing will pay you a visit in the new year when your garden will be at it's best". Andy Freeman, Herts. "It is as you say a wonderful plant this Aquilegia ,no bother but just keeps on rewarding .....and without doubt I'm truly hooked.. line and sinker. On receiving the seeds, I have decided to give myself an early Easter present". Andy Freeman, Herts (in December!)   "I think I got carried away with enthusiasm!"  "Just a note to say a big thank you for the seeds I got from you. I have been ordering seeds from many excellent purveyors over the years, but never before have I gotten 100% germination as I did from your seeds. Keep up the good work!" Ruth Bierhoff  “All I can say is WOW.  By far my favourite flowers in the garden.  They are still now flowering their socks off.  And the variety is fantastic.  The size of some of them is well beyond any that I have grown in the past.  I keep deadheading them and they keep on flowering.  Thanks so much for growing such a wide variety.  No one that sees them can believe the variety, colour and size of these aquilegia flowers. “ Sincerly Donna Bourdage, Shropshire June 16th 2011

DID YOU SEE MY AQUILEGIAS (Granny's Bonnets, Columbines)

on TV, Byw yn yr Ardd, to watch via youtube go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Pj56XZpaiA  for English captions select 'subtitles', it is the 2nd icon,  bottom right.

GARDEN NEWS May 1st 2012 

Germany: Country Magazine.   Japan March, Bises

COUNTRY LIVING: May 2011 & in other magazines

 

The Byw yn yr Ardd or Gardeners' World features on TV could be thought of as a trailer for my 90minute DVD/video in which I tell you more than you thought there was to know about Aquilegias!  Includes demonstration of sowing and growing, pests, diseases, and breeding your own plants.  Many, many named forms, and other cultivars are shown.

 

 

SCROLL DOWN FOR ALL AQUILEGIA LISTS, or use links below

  • The bees have had their fun, and as all my plants are open pollinated, Aquilegias cannot to guaranteed to come true to type, I select seed from the correct seed parent, but do not know what pollen fertilised it.  Nevertheless, I've never seen a 'bad' aquilegia! In a way with my aquilegia seeds you are buying the amazing Touchwood gene pool as much as any particular cultivar.
  • Often, I may only have a few packets of seed of a certain type. I don’t say which are in short supply because, magically, everyone suddenly ‘must have’ that plant!  So please give plenty of alternatives, or ring/e-mail for availability.
  • Aquilegias are hardy perennials that flower the year after sowing.  More information on sowing.

HOW MANY SEEDS IN A PACKET? Usually 'enough'! At least 20 seeds and sometimes more than double that amount. As a general rule, don't expect many more than 20 seeds in the Connoisseurs' Choice selection of aquilegias, whereas many of the mixes are very generous, as well as the single-coloured single flowered sorts  "Your seeds from last spring germinated at 90-95%" France

PHOTOGRAPHS are great, but COLOURS aren't always perfect: eg understand that ordinary photos tend to make blues look more purple and digital photos make the blues look clearer! So please use the photos with this in mind and take the written description as more realistic.  However, MOST of the photos are taken of the actual plant from which the seed was harvested....that's good, isn't it?   

  KEY: 'NEW for 20xx'' means new this year, either for the first time or after a time of unavailability on the seedlist,.  ~ means seed (or some of the seed) has been sourced elsewhere, often from a seed wholesaler (I can't guarantee germination rates etc!). A number (eg ex 234)  refers to the acquisition number/ collection number of the plant in the national collection, from which the seed was harvested.

 E-MAIL LIST If you would like to receive new information & special offers, please e-mail me and I'll add you to my e-mailing list (just 4 emails sent/year).

There are 4 AQUILEGIA SEED-LISTS  BELOW

Prices for 2013  £2 a packet.  6 or more: £1.50/packet   15 or more:£1.25/packet  

UK Postage & Packing is £1.    Europe shipping  £3  Other worldwide shipping £3.50 (all for padded envelope)

 READY RECKONER:   1packet2, 2=£4 3=£6, 4=£8, 5=£9, 6=£9, 7=£10.50,, 8=£12, 9=£13.50, 10=£15, 11=£16.50,12=£18, 13=£18.75, 14=£18.75, 15=£18.75  16=£20, 17=£21.25, 18=£22.50, 19=£23.75, 20= £25, 21=£26.25, 22=£27.50, 23 = £28.75, 24=£30, 25= £31.25, 26= £32.50, 27= £33.75, 28= £35, 29= £36.35, 30= £37.50, 31= £38.75, 32= £40,  .et cetera! Yes….if you buy 10 packets, you may as well buy 15:    Don't forget to add any postage costs. I always get proof of posting so that you can claim in the event of non-delivery.

 Pay by: cheque, bank card or Paypal  More payment details at bottom of this webpage....including OVERSEAS information

TO ORDER email me a list of seeds that you'd like, I'll check availability and confirm total costs with you. 

PLEASE order in the order that the seeds appear in these lists, if possible, as it halves the time in preparing your order, and means I can find the seeds!  Thanks. To make it easy for you, you can just put the acquisition number if you want, eg 608, although the failsafe way (in case you or I get it wrong) would be to put eg 608 pink feather duster. Trouble emailing?  Some systems aren't compatible with this link. If so, send in your email system by putting carrie.thomas in front of @ntlworld.com to get my email address, else ring 01792-522443. PAYMENT is by cheque, payable to 'Touchwood Plants'.  You may also choose to pay by card, which can easily be done through email and the Paypal secure site (no need to have a Paypal account).

Aquilegia Mixes  All seeds are £2 a packet, discounts for 6 packets or more

AQUILEGIA BLACK MAGIC

MIX (from 22 mother plants)

 

 All the ‘blackest’ ones: singles, doubles, clematis-flowered, ‘Black Barlow’, ‘William Guiness’ and it’s double form, are all here.  Spellbinding! 

NOTE FOR ALL MIXES: Resulting plants should not be labeled, for example, ‘Touchwood Eventide’ or even ‘Eventide’ as they will be a total mix, of some recognisable named cultivars together with un-named forms.

 

AQUILEGIA WHITE MAGIC

MIX (from 25 mother plants)

 You’ve guessed it: all the white forms to enlighten your garden.  Singles, clematis flowered, and all kinds of doubles including some very special ones.  ‘Magically’ you can select all the white seedlings at first leaf stage, just discard any with any purple in the petioles, leaving just those with a whitish green stem. (Such selections may also be marbled colours, ie ones with white mixed in with the dominant colour) Touchwood aquilegias 'White Magic' mix

AQUILEGIA ELITE MIX 

 (from 50+ mother plants)

 This is the mix you’ve always longed for, with seed selected from everything in the Touchwood collection, EXCEPT for single, plain pinks or purples (unless scented).   Start your own collection!  Aquilegia Touchwood Elite Mix
AQUILEGIA SUPREME MIX  Anything and everything in this mix!Touchwood Supreme Touchwood Supreme Mix of all kinds of aquilegias

AQUILEGIA

STARSHINE MIX

 = STELLATA MIX

(from 11 mother plants)

 Do you know these unusual forms? The flower has become flattened and star-shaped or 'clematis-flowered'. Many visitors cannot believe these are granny's bonnets!  Many colours, singles and double clematis flowered.              

Aquilegia vulgaris stellata mix from Touchwood seeds

AQUILEGIA BARLOWS MIX

(from 8 mother plants)

 Barlow forms are like spiky pompoms and are actually a full double stellata form.  These, too, are ancient forms that have been cultivated for many centuries. Includes Nora, Blue, Black, Purple, Christa, and Rose Barlows 

       

 

AQUILEGIA

DENIM & ICE MIX

=MARBLED BLUE MIX

(from 13 mother plants)

A selection of marbled or streaky blues and purples colours from Demin (light indigo) to Ice (hint of a tint of blue).  Includes named varieties.                            Select seedlings with no purpleyness on leaf-stalks, ie just like white ones are.

 

AQUILEGIA TOUCHWOOD 

BLUSHES MIX

(from 40+ mother plants)
 Touchwood BlushesAll the pinks, from the palest pearls to the richest crimsons and rubies are all here.  Includes singles, all sorts of doubles, bicolours, clematis-flowered, ‘Nora Barlow’ and ‘Rose Barlow’.  
 

AQUILEGIA TOUCHWOOD 

EVENTIDE  MIX

(from 35 mother plants)

Here we have the blues and purples: the colours of dusk and evening.  Singles, varied doubles, bicolours, clematis-flowered and Barlow types.  Unbelievable variety…and some scented ones too!  

 

AQUILEGIA TOUCHWOOD 

FANCIES MIX  (from 35+ mother plants)

Do you know when I was a little girl I used to pull the flowers off some of the Granny's Bonnets and stand them up on the grass-suspended over a crossed stick and pretend that they were ladies at a dance, I would imagine that they came alive at night. They were always dead by the next day, but I spent many happy hours. I never had pom pom ones though-I would have been thrilled with those. I will make an order soon. Our seasons are reversed here obviously-do I sow in spring or autumn? I am so happy to have found you!
 Happy gardening, Ellen Rowatt, Australia.

 All the many and varied double forms, from white to black, through pinks, clarets, purples and bicoloureds.  Pleated, frilly, clematis-flowered, Barlows, feather-dusters.  Oh, and variegated foliage ones!  Special and spectacular!       

 ~AQUILEGIA DOUBLES MIX

 Let's try another mix of doubles from another supplier, unfortunately they had no photo.  
  New for 2013
 
AQUILEGIA TOUCHWOOD
CRINOLINE LADIES New for 2013

pompoms mix from 6 parents

These cultivars have been grown in cottage gardens for centuries. The best are bicoloured, tight round pompoms. I’ve also included very full doubles that are pompom shaped  when viewed  ‘face-on’. Aquilegia flowers have 5 petals. Double forms have 10 around the flower in a circle (whorl), and more whorls of 10 within those. Pompom forms may have 10 x 10 petals, yes, 100 petals instead of 5! The photo, left, shows how these petals are stacked one-inside-the-other so each spur nestles in the spur of another.

Touchwood aquilegia pompom mix

  

~AQUILEGIA 'POM-POMS MIXED'

from Plant World.

Seeds & pic from Plant World. I've had a lot of pom-poms from this mix in the past.

New for 2013

  

AQUILEGIA TOUCHWOOD 

DUETS MIX

(from 55 mother plants)

A gorgeous mix of all my many bicoloured flowers.  Singles and doubles, beautiful and impressive. Also now available as seeds from just singles (Delightful Duos) or doubles (Double Delights), see 2 entries below.

 
  

AQUILEGIA TOUCHWOOD 

DELIGHTFUL DUOS MIX

(from 25 mother plants)

Single forms with dramatic bicoloured flowers.

Note, if you want bicoloured LONG SPURRED flowers,  choose McKana or Dragonfly Mixes.

 
  

AQUILEGIA TOUCHWOOD 

DOUBLE DELIGHTS  MIX

(from 30 mother plants)

Seeds from double flowers with 2 colours. 

Double Delights, from Touchwood, bicoloured doubles 
AQUILEGIA TOUCHWOOD
HARMONY MIX

yellow bicoloured mix from 6 parents

   New for 2013

These are unusual, they are the sorts of colours found in large, long-spurred aquilegias, but these are often only vulgaris-sized blooms. Some may hold their heads hanging like the vulgaris cultivars rather than the long-spurred ones, which face outwards. Yes, you’ve guessed, these are hybrids. Because of this, you’ll be likely to get some very different and unusual offspring from this seed mix.

harmony mix

AQUILEGIA

LONG-SPURRED MIX

(from 35 mother plants)

eg McKanas, Dragonfly, coerulea hybrids, Songbird series etc.

USUALLY these are bicoloured, having either white or yellows as the second colour. The yellow, of course, can be any shade from creamy to orangey.

 
Aquilegia Touchwood
PHARAOH'S TREASURE MIX

yellows mix from 17 parents

   New for 2013

What a great selection....from all types of yellow singles with a few doubles added for even greater effect. Most parents were long spurred Aquilegia chrysantha types including blushed yellow ones, some will be smaller flowered or even nodding blooms.

Pharoah's Treasure

AQUILEGIA TOUCHWOOD

GLIMMERS  MIX (from 35 mother plants)

A selection of all the pale colours (including white), which stand out so well in the garden.  All sorts of flower forms and bicoloured ones. 

 
 

AQUILEGIA TOUCHWOOD

RICHES

(from 20 mother plants)
   

All the darkest, deepest, richest colours.  From ‘black’ through ruby and claret and purple and indigo.                                              

 

 

AQUILEGIA TOUCHWOOD 

SIMPLICITYMIX

(from 14 mother plants)

  Simplicity Delightful Duos

I thought I’d a comprehensive list of mixes….then a gentleman asked me for one from just the elegant, simple single flowers!  So here it is! Also see long-spurred sorts, eg McKana and Dragonfly Mixes.

  
 

AQUILEGIA TOUCHWOOD

FRAGRANT MIX

 (13 mother plants)

 A mix of seed from the fragrant forms in my garden.  
~Aquilegia ex 'Fragrant Fantasy'

Seed & pic from Plant World. Let me quote what Ray Brown says on their site~:A new and lovely range of columbines bred from some of the most fragrant species in cultivation. The perfumed flowers come in all shapes and sizes, from tight pom-poms to long-spurred singles and in a wide variety of colours.

New for 2013

 ~Aquilegia ‘Perfumed Garden’  Large, scented flowers.

Photo and seed from Plant World.  New for 2013

 
 

AQUILEGIA TOUCHWOOD

GOLD (from 16 mother plants)

 Giving a long season of interest are these   gold-splashed and golden leafed forms.  Easily selected even at seed-leaf stage.  Seed from a wide selection of flower colours and forms, each one will delight both you and your friends.     

 

~AQUILEGIA TOUCHWOOD LILIPUT LOVELIES!

 

 

 

DWARF MIX     ex at least 11 types

    I've finally got enough  seed to offer to people wanting diminutive plants. These are from tiny  up to 'Winky' &' Spring Magic' heights (12"/30cms). Ideal for the rock garden, troughs, pots and the front of the border. Mainly species but with some dwarf hybrids. Includes AA. pyrenaica discolor and flabellata of all sorts and  occasional others.          

~Aquilegia Biedermeier Mixed That's different: upwardly facing flowers on this dwarf mix. No need to tip this chins of these beauties, they gaze up adoringly at you gazing down adoringly on them. Oh for goodness sake Carrie, that is just too twee and sugary even for you.        Photo by Robert Höck.
~ Aquilegia coerulea hybrids  Huge yet delicately balanced flowers, many bicoloured types. Lovely long-spurs on these American hybrids. Aquilegia coerulea itself is a clear blue and white, far clearer than the blues found here in our British natives. It is the state flower of Colorado and can colour the countryside in swathes of dancing blue in the spring. Now that state is where Bob Nold lives. He has written the only book on Aquilegias (Columbines: ISBN 0-88192-588-8). No wonder!  For those of you with the book - I love the no-nonsense guide to the 'mysteries of growing columbines' as revealed on p13.  
~Aquilegia 'Dragonfly Hybrids'  LARGE flowers.  American brightly-coloured hybrids that are a couple of feet in height rather than about three.  Beautifully held flowers, so that they seem to dance and jitter on the plant.   I 'm really pleased with mine ...and others have said the same to me. 
~Aquilegia

McKana hybrids mix

 

or choose McKana Giant hybrids mix

Loads and loads of colours in this large-flowered, long spurred mix. Yes, many more than shown in the photos.

Brilliant!

 

~Aquilegia Rosina's Extra Specials Mix

Here's something different, from another keen gardener comes this collection.  They are much larger packets of seeds as the viability is a little lower than mine as these are a year old. Rosina has an extraordinary aquilegia collection, and offers me all her 'left over' one year old seeds....BUT ONLY of her extra special forms. Includes golden, variegated leaved forms and a HUGE range of flower forms. Do have a go.

 

???

Touchwood Lottery Mix

more generous amounts from 15 parents

???

Each year as I collect seeds from my National Collections I find that there are plants that have lost their labels. Oh dear what could they be? Up to now they've gone into the general mixes but what a waste of what could be extra-specials! Want to take a chance?  There's bound to be winners hence I've called it the Touchwood Lottery Mix!

? ! ? 

 Aquilegia ex Spring Magic Mix 
from 3 parents
 
Photo captures them just about to burst into flower: one of the earliest in the garden. These 3 plants are growing in one large container.
Aquilegia Spring Magic Rose & Ivory syn light red & yellow
~Aquilegia

flabellata mix

Some A. flabellata forms and hybrids (eg Mini Star and Cameo ranges) Be lucky and get unusual forms amongst them! These are short plants, very dainty and beautiful.  Some will be exceedingly tiny indeed, rock garden delights, and most will be bicoloured with white petals and, most commonly, blue (or another colour) sepals.  Sold out 2013

Aquilegia pyrenaica incl subsp. discolor & hybrids

mix

Sturdy hybrids of the dwarf alpine often just known as A. discolor.  Discolor means 2-colours so guess what you'll get! Photo is of A. pyrenaica itself, by Robert Höck.

 Sold out 2013

~Aquilegia Species Mix

at least nine types

I have a few different species of aquilegia in my garden that don't offer enough seed individually to offer to you.  I've mixed this seed and added some of the other species found on this webpage, given a stir, made a wish and here they are! Be surprised.....and pleased! 

Singles, sometimes bicoloured and all sorts of shapes and sizes.

Note, the photos are for rough guidance only

Mix of species aquilegia from Touchwood Seeds

Aquilegia Connoisseurs' Choice: Very Special mix  from 37 parents Can’t choose?  How about this then: Connoisseurs' Choice: Very special mix  from many very special, but low yield plants..... the mix changes each year and is a marvellous opportunity to discover something very different and beautiful.   Note: the photos may not depict actual plants harvested from, but gives an idea of the wealth of unusual forms that it contains.    

 AQUILEGIA STREWING MIX   HUGE packets that you can grow by scattering direct on the ground where you wish them to flower.  Includes Touchwood Supreme mix with current plentifuls, as well as some of last year's spare seeds. Remember, they'll take 1-2 months to germinate!
FREE SEEDS... Buy any 8 mixes, and choose another....free

....NOT including my special mixes below eg VOLCANO! and Shooting Stars mix

 Go on, have another look at all the mixes above
Shooting Stars

Yellow doubles from Touchwood Mix  

from10 parents

Yellow doubles mix.    

    

Dragon's Breath Mix from 10 parentsAquilegia Dragon's Breath Mix only by Touchwood From the land of dragons, comes seed from the remarkable collection of red & yellow doubles at Touchwood. To get an idea of the range of flowers included in this mix, see the ones pictured above as red & yellow doubles.

Having NOTHING to do with aquilegias, here's a link to WALKING the DRAGON, an article I first wrote for a family newsletter about a special walk here in Wales.

 'Dragon's Breath' Red & yellow double aquilegias, only by Touchwood.
VOLCANO!'Volcano!'  by Touchwood. Exclusive 'Volcano!' Mix from Touchwood.
Doubles with yellow in, including yellow doubles & apricotty ones.         

The photo well shows what my new aquilegia hybrid national plant collection is all about. Spectacular, aren't they?

'Volcano!' only by Touchwood! 

Touchwood 'Sunrise Surprises' Mix

Pink & yellow doubles mixed


Seed from all sorts of pink and yellow doubles including the blushed yellow ones. NEW FOR 2013

Touchwood
 Mix

blue/indigo & (usually creamy) yellow doubles mixed

 


Will you help me choose a name for this mix? Do you prefer ''Blue Moon' or 'Mystic Moonlight? Or do you have a suggestion or two to offer?

The blues and indigos, currently, are ones that open creamy yellow and ages lighter. NEW FOR 2013
Purple & yellow doubles mix


purple & yellow doubles mixed

 


Will you help me choose a name for this mix? Do you prefer 'Crown Jewels', 'Emperor's Glory', 'Magic & Mystery' 'Merlin's Delight', 'Touchwood Treasures' ''Sultan's delights/secrets/specials/glory/ selection/ daydreams' 'oo la la!', 'Dancing girls', 'Frivolity & Fun' 'Wizard's Delight', or 'Merlin's Magic'? Or do you have a suggestion or two to offer that captures the rich colour mix?

These and the next mix look rather similar. And, yes, it IS difficult to separate some purples from 'blacks', but generally to the eye (rather than camera) in daylight, these are more purple, and 'Night Lights' are darker. NEW FOR 2013

Touchwood 'Night Lights' Mix

'black' & yellow doubles mixed


Burgundy / black & yellow doubles.

Seed from those closest to black that I can get with yellow accompanying it. Sometimes the yellow fades to creamy with maturity of the individual flower. NEW FOR 2013
Touchwood 'Black & Bruises!' mix

'black'/blue
/purple & yellow doubles mixed

 

What beautiful colours bruises go after some days, not just 'black & blue' but rich purples, burgundies and yellows. I think that the name of this mix (of the 3 above mixes) captures the striking colour effects of old bruises, without having to undergo the original pain!
 NEW FOR 2013

'I think your website is brilliant, your passion for the plants really comes across and selections are first class. Now I've found you, I'll know where to come again in the future. Kind regards, Mike Brown, Surrey 2011.'  'Oh, your seedlist makes me sick, I have looked through it twice already, but there is absolutely no space for more aquilegias...Or is there? What an effort you put into the list! The collection list, starting of with white and getting darker and darker for example, all the text describing all the entries...  Susann, Sweden'    'I wrote earlier that my seed sowing skill is limited – well, I am really rather pleased.  I’ve ended up with over 20 plants each from the pink, white and black stellata seeds.  I’ve 15 'Green Apple' plants too. Unfortunately, I only got five “Firewheel” plants, but that’s fine because I’m sure the little devils will produce some very interesting babies none-the-less!  I’m planning a new border just for my babies!  Thank you so much.  With very best wishes   Julia Alder August 2010.' Thanks for the info Julia....very good for me as the Green Apples and Firewheel ones are seeds  BUY IN!  so the best germination was with my own seeds....probably because they are fresher one. And now that I know that Firewheel seeds were rather poor germinators I'll be able to put more in a packet next year      Green Apples is my own seed this year.      ’You will be pleased to hear that I have supplied most of Birkerød with lovely Touchwood aquilegias.’ Best wishes, Lise Sonne Rasmussen, Denmark 2012

 Species and Named Cultivars   ALL packets of seeds are £2, discounts for 6 packets +

You should always have at least 20 seeds/packet often many more, it depends on the generosity of the plant or plants.       

Aquilegia species ex 2106  yellow

Let’s start the species list with unknown or unconfirmed species....not wanting to mislead and wrongly label, I offer packets of seeds from these parent plants.

  Lovely triternate foliage (looks delicate and rather like a maidenhair fern). Short, 12" / 30cms, delightful upfacing small flowers.

 New for 2013

~Aquilegia pale yellow from Jyl

I'm trying this myself, will you join me? Jyl explains the colour as a cream yellow with darker yellow blades, even though the photo has come out rather silvery. From a strong plant, 3' tall and very long-blooming.

 

 New for 2013

Aquilegia species ex 2066  orange & yellow   Outfacing

 New for 2013   Sold out 2013

Aquilegia species ex 1780 red & yellow Nodding  

 New for 2013

Aquilegia species ex 2071 red & yellow Nodding  

 New for 2013   Sold out 2013

Aquilegia

ex 1472   

&ex 1556 

1556Here's some  I grew from skinneri seed, which it isn’t. What is it?  I don't know....but isn't it lovely?  I’ve popped it here with the species types, so order it by number and put red and yellow species type. The pics show flowers from the two different plants.

1472
 Aquilegia red and yellow species type double  

Here we have a ‘natural’ double form of the above type.

Sold out 2013

~Aquilegia

alpina

My friend Eddy took these photos in the French alps: Queyras.  Sold out 2013

 

Aquilegia atrata Atrata means 'dark, and that's just what you'll get! Attractively exerted stamens.  Last years seeds, double-sized packets.
Sold out 2013
~A. bertolonii

Full sized flowers on diminutive plants...look closely at the photo on the right, you are seeing the whole plant...see the black rim of the pot?

Photo, left, is by Jyl Tuck.

~Aquilegia canadensis Another from North America. Red and yellow.

Did you know? The straight spur, which are particularly wide at the base is an adaptation to its pollinator..........the humming-bird.  So are the exerted stamens...which brush their pollen on the humming-birds neck as it uses its tongue to lap the nectar.

One of the reasons for growing this, therefore, is to attract 'hummies' to the garden.

It's not yet worked for me.

Photo by Susann Nilsson (right) and Robert Höck (left)

Aquilegia chrysantha cultivars

Hi Carrie.......Yesterday I sat in my very small garden and thought “I wonder if I can get some yellow aquilegia ?”...........good grief I am completely and utterly blown away by your website. Absolutely fantastic and so inspiring and the answer is obviously yes!! So here’s my list.....”  Anne Laney, Berkshire



Well named- as chrysantha means yellow. These have totally 'stolen the show' for me during their long flowering season.

Seeds from long-lived cultivars in my garden.

Aquilegia chrysantha 'Yellow Star'

I’m really pleased to offer this favourite cultivar, I bought plants in 2011 at The National Botanic Garden of Wales.

Many apologies, I offered this as 'Yellow Queen' last year. My mistake.  I don't know the differences between them.

Aquilegia chrysantha 'Yellow Queen'
~Aquilegia coerulea Huge clear-blue and white flowers

Pho by Susann Nilsson

~Aquilegia ecalcarata Also known as Semiaquilegia ecalcarata. Small, exceedingly dainty maroonish flowers. Look...no spurs!  Delightful. 8-15"

  Sold out 2013

Aquilegia ecalcarata hybrid ex 1822 a-g
2-tone purple, yellowy inside
New for 2013

 

 Seed came from a friend, all seedlings were like this, with spurs on smallish plants. I love the yellowy colour inside, let's see what the next generation will look like.

Aquilegia ecalcarata hybrid from 'Elegant Ruby' x ecalcarata
New for 2013 & VERY special!

 This one will definitely throw different offspring. The mother parent was a golden leaved ruby single, and the father was A ecalcarata. ALL offspring of this cross looked the same, all having the habit, size and look of A. ecalcarata, however the flowers are a good dark shade and have spurs. The next (f2) generation should be extremely interesting ....I’m looking for the golden leaved sorts. There is also likely to be variation in colour, flower shape, time of flowering, heights etc etc AND new genes from any crossing done by the bumble-bees!

ex 1241
Pink clematis-flowered ecalcarata
short
ecalcarata hybrid. I had been calling this pink form a  stellata, but now I've learned that that is ONLY to be used for A. vulgaris forms of this shape. So, please do not use stellata yourself to describe these forms of A. ecalcarata or any other Aquilegia species.

 Now, what to do, let’s revert to the common-useage description of such forms in A. vulgaris and call them clematis-flowered. So, here I offer a pink, clematis-flowered form of Aquilegia ecalcarata, that is probably a hybrid.
 
 
ex pink clematis-flowered ecalcarata hybrid ex 1888/9/90
2' /60cms

From one similar to the above, came all these rather taller, 24-30" (60-75cms) plants all looking remarkably the same. Note 1890 is slightly darker than 1888 and 1889 (see photo below), ask for which you want. These are probably very similar to A. ‘Apple Blossom’


NEW for 2013
   
~Aquilegia

flabellata

 Blue-purple, rather bell shaped flowers on plants to about 2' high.

Photos by Susann Nilsson Sold out 2013

~Aquilegia

flabellata

var pumila

(or nana)

 These are quite short (6-7") plants, very dainty and beautiful. Rock garden, or in a pot: bicoloured blue and white petals. Delightful.

Seed & pic from Jyl

 
~Aquilegia

flabellata

var pumila   f alba

from Jyl Tuck

The white form of this aquilegia, also known as A. flabellata 'Nana Alba'. Jyl Tuck explained: 'it grows to 12"-18" tall, is early, long lived, with strong fan foliage-- living through our -20F  winters with ease'. (Carrie's note, this is rather tall for pumila, though less than expected for ordinary flabellata, I'm trying them all, will you?)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photos by Jyl Tuck

~Aquilegia

flabellata

'Ministar'

Short plants with large flowers in a clear blue and white.

Sold out 2013
~Aquilegia

flabellata Mixed

 A. flabellata forms and hybrids (eg Mini Star and Cameo ranges) Be lucky and get unusual forms amongst them! These are short plants, very dainty and beautiful.  Some will be exceedingly tiny indeed, rock garden delights, and most will be bicoloured with white petals and, most commonly, blue (or another colour) sepals.   
~Aquilegia formosa

ALSO var truncata
Beautiful red and yellow flowers on this plant native to western North America. Naturally pollinated by humming birds...hence those dangling golden stamens all positioned ready to dust the hummy's chin with pollen. But I've never seen one visit my plants...even when I've been an 'early worm'. Oh well, instead I can use them in a traditional way, as a love charm. Hope hubby doesn't mind!   

Also available as the  variety truncata, where the inner petals are shorter (truncated). If you want these, order Aquilegia formosa var . truncata.

Aquilegia formosa
~Aquilegia fragrans

 

I love this plant so am sowing seeds from other people’s plants to get a wider gene pool. 

 Photo & seed from Plant World.
~ laramiensis

Photo by Susann Nilsson  

~Aquilegia longissima Lovely yellow flowers with the looooooooooooooongest spurs! They can be 150cm (6") long.  How on earth do any insects manage to get the nectar at the very end of the spurs? They are pollinated by moths with very long tongues indeed! 
I keep trying but can never get the true A. longissima..I suspect those are the ones that die during their first winter here. Let's try again.   
 
~Aquilegia

olympica

A species from the woods and meadows of the Turkish mountains.

 

Photo left by Robert Höck

Seeds, & photo right from Jyl Tuck.

~Aquilegia oxysepala Another species Aquilegia with maroon and mustard flowers. Nold, in his Columbine monograph, states: "This species, which differs from A. buergeriana in its strongly hooked spurs [which Susann Nilsson's photos admirably show] and barely exerted stamens, grows to 80cm."        

I had these seeds for myself from a new, untried source, there are some spare. New for 2013
Aquilegia ex
?x puyearana
New for 2013

I was thrilled to be given seeds of this hybrid to try, and really like the resulting plants, both were rather short, say 12” / 35cms with slightly-purpley-red with yellow long-spurred flowers. I read in ‘Columbines’ monograph that A xpuryearana is from a crossing of A. hinckleyana and A. Canadensis. Also known as ‘Blazing Star Columbine’, they should be red & yellow but I’m unsure about their usual height. Mine don’t seem to be as bright red, nevertheless they make handsome plants.

Aquilegia x puyearana ?
~pyrenaica

 subsp discolor

syn A. discolor

A. Pyrenaica subsp  discolor: Extremely popular and often just known as Aquilegia discolor, a dainty rock-garden plant with blue-and white flowers.

Photo and some of the seeds are from Jyl Tuck.

Sold out 2013

 

~Aquilegia

saximontana,

From a friend, I have a few packets to spare. First come first served.

Blue and white alpine.

   Photo rhs by Robert Höck; lhs by Jyl Tuck (and seed supplied by Jyl).

~Aquilegia sibirica My Swedish friend Susann introduced me to this species...her favourite with its almost red stems and blue and white flowers.   She explained how it blooms so early and produces a real bouquet of flowers...and she sent me this photo.  I was hooked!  Guess where it's a native of? Yup, the species name says it all! About 60cms tall, and, in this form, blue and white flowers.  
  NEW for 2013
Aquilegia sibirica
~Auilegia

ex viridiflora

Olive and chocolate. Beautiful. Scented.         

I love it. 

 

Photos by Robert Höck

Sold out 2013

Aquilegia ex viridiflora hybrid 1774

Rather unusual slatey-purple shades in this hybrid of viridiflora. Untried yet from seed......

Aquilegia vulgaris Our British native, from which all the cultivars have been derived. Blue single flowers, seed originally from Chiltern Seeds.

SORRY...no seed 2013, BUT I have PLENTY of seed collected from several blue flowered plants  which may or may not be true to the wild type.

 
 Aquilegia 'Black Barlow'

The blackest colour and the strangest flower.  Mystical.

 
 Aquilegia 'Black Barlow' type with wiry stem

This looks like ‘Black Barlow’, but the flower stem seemed thinner (yet strong).

 

 Aquilegia Black Barlow TYPES          These flowered like (or rather like) 'Black Barlow' but came as different parents...or lost label parent. So expect some black Barlow offspring together with other interesting sorts!
 ~Aquilegia 'Blue Barlow'  Lovely spiky blue flowers.  Collect the whole Barlow range, they are such good value in the garden.
~Aquilegia ex 'Bluebird'  

      

‘Bluebird’ is one of the f1 songbird series, therefore will not come true from seed. However, you should get some really lovely offspring. ‘Bluebird’ itself is short (8-12” / 20-35cms), and I found it rather difficult to keep during its first winter, only a greenhouse plant made it in 2011-12.

 New for 2013

 

 Aquilegia ‘Blue Fountain’   A marbled-bluey-purple double clematis-flowered form.  Introduced by Touchwood, and causes quite a stir, as no-one appears to have seen anything quite like it.  Sorry, marbling doesn't show up in the picture!  Featured in my 'Six of the best Aquilegias' in Gardeners' World magasine, May 2007.
~Aquilegia 'Blue Star' or ex 'Blue Star'

      

Long spurred blue and white.

If labelled ex 'Blue Star' the seed will have been collected from my 'Blue Star' plants rather than via a wholesaler.

~Aquilegia 'Bordeaux Barlow'

I  do love these deep, dark colours. 

~Aquilegia 'Burnished Rose'

Golden leaves and pink double flowers. Seeds & pic from Plant World.   New for 2013

Aquilegia ex 'Chaffinch' . 'Chaffinch' is one of the f1 songbird series, therefore will not come true from seed. However, you should get some really lovely offspring. ‘Chaffinch’ itself is short (8-12” / 20-35cms), and was a slightly darker dark-pink than State series 'Montana'.
New for 2013
~Aquilegia 'Christa Barlow' A beautiful spiky pompom sepaloid double,  blue with whiter tips. 
 
 
 

Aquilegia Clementine Series

ex blue

 

Seed from the blue coloured form.

    Sold out 2013 

Aquilegia Clementine Blue
 

Aquilegia Clementine Series

ex purple

 

  New for 2013  

Seed from the dark purple coloured form.

 

'Crimson Star'

syn

'Rotstern'

 

Crimson and white bicoloured, large-flowered, long-spurred hybrid.

Amazing in bloom!

Aquilegia 'Crimson Star'
 

'Double Rubies'

 

Seed & pic from Plant World. New for 2013
Aquilegia ex
'Elegance' 
Amazingly elegant and graceful in growth, one of my favourites. Each flower perfectly poised on a dark coloured stem.

 Bred by Touchwood, and introduced in 2008 

Gold leaf, with a 'black' flower .... the 'William Guiness' colour. Offspring can be selected at seedling stage for golden leaves.  

Aquilegia ex
'Elegant Opal'
Gold leaf, elegant white flower.     Bred at Touchwood    Introduced 2011.

Before now I have offered seed from some of the un-named new colour forms that I have bred from 'Elegance' but now in 2011 I am naming them for the first time. Do grow the whole elegant family in your border they look great growing together!  

Aquilegia ex
'Elegant Moonstone'

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gold leaf, elegant marbled blue flower. Just like moonstone, some have more blue colouring than others.

 Bred at Touchwood       Introduced in 2011. 

Aquilegia
ex 'Elegant Ruby'
Gold leaf, elegant ruby flower.   Bred at Touchwood

  Introduced 2011.

Have you guessed yet? yes I'm naming all these after gemstones... they are so desirable, precious, and stylish ....and each has a gold setting! Why not collect the full golden gemstone set?

 

 
Aquilegia
ex 'Elegant Ruby'

Note: in February 2011, the 1st publication of 'Elegant Ruby' was in the RHS' The Garden Magazine.  Included was the statement 'noticably long spurs'. However that is incorrect, and I requested acknowledgement of the printed error. For future reference, I also state it here.

 
 ~Aquilegia ex  ‘Firewheel’

Stellata form in fiery red.
Seeds & pic from Plantworld.  New for 2013

 Aquilegia ex  ‘Flamboyant’ Introduced by Touchwood.  Scented pink and white double. My original plant started as a ‘pink tatty’ flower, second year was flamboyant pink-&-white longish spurred double, and third year showed tripling and even  5-tiers in a flower. Featured in 'Six of the best Aquilegias' in Gardeners' World magazine, May 2007. 
~Aquilegia ex 'Fragrant Fantasy'

Seed & pic from Plant World. Let me quote what Ray Brown says on their site~:A new and lovely range of columbines bred from some of the most fragrant species in cultivation. The perfumed flowers come in all shapes and sizes, from tight pom-poms to long-spurred singles and in a wide variety of colours.

New for 2013

Aquilegia ex 'Golden Guiness'

Woweeee!

Golden leaf and (just about) black-and-white flowers.

New for 2013   Sold out 2013

Aquilegia ex ‘Green Apples’   Another Barlow sort, introduced by Plant World. A white Barlow flower but the buds and young flowers are a distinct green.  I hope to have both this and 'White Barlow' growing together in my collection.  Why don't you do the same?  The seeds are very different, black compared to 'White Barlow's greeny colour.  
~'Heavenly Blue'

'Sky Blue'

'Blue Dream'

 

Known by all three names. Deservedly popular.  Sky-blue and white, large-flowered, long-spurred hybrid. A clear sky blue. RECOMMENDED

 

~'Aquilegia ex 'Iceberg'

 

Bred and introduced by Plant World, a large, fragrant blue and white  (or blue and pale blue) aquilegia bred from the perfumed fragrans species. Seed from Plant World  New for 2013

 

~'Koralle'

 

Really exciting, a red and yellow bicoloured, large-flowered, long-spurred hybrid.  Absolutely amazing, do grow it.

 MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, a real show-stopper.

 

~ Aquilegia 'Leprechaun Gold'

 

 

 

 

Variegated leaf and double violet flowers. Lovely deep red flower stems.

Photos by JELITTO

New for 2013

 

'Lime Frost' With variegated leaves and double indigo flowers, I'm unsure how this cultivar differs from 'Leprechaun Gold' or 'Woodside Blue'. Do you know?  
Aquilegia ex
'Maine'

 

'Maine' is one of the f1 State series, therefore will not come true from seed. However, you should get some really lovely offspring. ‘Maine’ itself is short (8-12” / 20-35cms), and a lovely pink and light yellow/cream.

. New for 2013

 

Aquilegia ex
'Maxi' syn
'Yellow Star'

 

A  LARGE yellow cultivar. The 2 flowers at the bottom of the photo are ‘Maxi’, the 2 at the top are other chrysantha cultivars. The size difference IS real, although there’s also perspective happening here to make the top ones look smaller.

 

Aquilegia 'Maxi' compared to other chrysanthas
Aquilegia ex
‘Mellow Yellow’
 With a yellow leaf, and single or double, milky-white flowers, this brightens up a dull spot.    
Aquilegia ex
'Montana'

'Montana' is one of the f1 State series, therefore will not come true from seed. However, you should get some really lovely offspring. ‘Montana’ itself is short (8-12” / 20-35cms), and a slightly lighter dark-pink than 'Chaffinch'.

. New for 2013

 

~Aquilegia 'Nora Barlow'       

Unusual sepaloid double where each 'petal' shades from deep old-rose-pink through cream to the green tips. An old, beautifully and regularly formed variety.  Can 'Nora Barlow' really be an aquilegia?

 
~Aquilegia 'Oranges and Lemons' Introduced by Plant World, a range of red, orange and yellow flowers over a very long season indeed.  Photo and seed from Plant World.  New for 2013  
Aquilegia ex
State Series
'Oregon'
 Aquilegia State Series 'Oregon'
Seed from one of the amazing range in the State Series of knee-high, large flowered, long spurred American hybrids. I understand that the State Series are f1 hybrids, so what you will grow from these seeds WILL NOT BE ‘OREGON’. Having warned you of that, hopefully you’ll get a good range of garden-worthy plants.  Sold out 2013
Aquilegia State Series 'Oregon'
 ~Aquilegia ‘Perfumed Garden’  Large, scented flowers.

Photo and seed from Plant World.  New for 2013

 
Aquilegia ex
‘Red Hobbit’
Wonderful red-&-white long spurred aquilegia. Cheerful in the garden, and attracts a lot of attention.  Aquilegia 'Red Hobbit'
Aquilegia ex
‘Red Star’
 Understandably a great favourite in the garden. Sold out 2013 Aquilegia 'Red Star'
~Aquilegia

'Rose Barlow'

A type of stellata form ... a Barlow shape so it's a very spiky double pompom type in pink.  Featured in 'Six of the best Aquilegias' in Gardeners' World magasine, May 2007. Aquilegia 'Rose Barlow'
~ Aquilegia 'Rose Queen'

 

 

Lovely long spurred sort in  pink and white.

 

 

 Aquilegia ex 'Skylark'

'Skylark'' is one of the f1 Songbird series, therefore will not come true from seed. However, you should get some really lovely offspring. ‘Skylark’ itself is short (8-12” / 20-35cms), and has an unusual shade of purple-maroon set off with a white centre.

. New for 2013

 Aquilegia ex 'Snowballs' Lovely white pom-pom flowers. Shorter plants.

Introduced by Plant World.

New for 2013

 Aquilegia ex Spring Magic Pink & white Spring Magic is a magical range of dwarf (8-15") aquilegias that have large, long spurred flowers held just above the foliage, very lovely and well proportioned. The plant supplier called it rose and white, but I disagree....it's a  pastel pink rather than a darker rose pink. . Sold out 2013
 Aquilegia ex Spring Magic Rose & Ivory    

I love this colour combination, do you? Note in 2010: just as well I love it as this year my new 'light redAquilegia Spring Magic rose & ivory and yellow' spring magic seedlings flowered...exactly the same shade. Different seedhouses description for the same item.  Ho humm. Still...they did repeat flower...making them one of the earliest AND latest flowering aquilegias in the garden!

 Aquilegia ex Spring Magic Blue & white The most popular of the trio 
 Aquilegia ex Spring Magic White

 

     Lovely.

 

 Aquilegia ex Spring Magic Yellow

 

Wasn't I lucky to find these? Another Spring Magic winner!

Aquilegia Spring Magic Yellow
 Aquilegia ex Spring Magic Mix
ex 3 parents
 Photo captures them just about to burst into flower: one of the earliest in the garden. These 3 plants are growing in one large container.
 Aquilegia ex 'Strawberry Icecream'  Pink & white pleated double. Possibly the aquilegia that really got me started on the hunt for more and more cultivars. Introduced by Plant World. Seed from my 'best' plant will be used first, then the other plant, which is still very good but not quite as perfect!  'Strawberry Icecream' was featured in my 'Six of the best Aquilegias' in Gardeners' World magasine, May 2007.

New for 2013
Aquilegia 'Sweet Dreams' Bred by Touchwood 2008 was the first year of presentation of this 'new baby' of mine. I have the greatest of pleasure in introducing this most beautiful cultivar. 'Sweet Dreams' combines my finest pretty pastel pink stellata with the blessing of variegated leaves. The prettiness of the pastel pink is conferred because it shades from old-rose pink through cream to green tips. And yes, it DOES have a central raised area to the flower, which adds greatly to its charm. 

 

 Aquilegia ex
‘Tower Light Blue’
 Lovely pale marbled blue double  Aquilegia 'Tower Light Blue'
 Aquilegia ex 'Virginia'

'Virginia' is one of the f1 State series, therefore will not come true from seed. However, you should get some really lovely offspring. ‘Virginia’ itself is short (8-12” / 20-35cms), in the always-a-winner combination of blue & white.

. New for 2013

~Aquilegia White Barlow'  The Barlow sorts are justifiably popular. The dense spiky flowers show up well in the garden...and the paler the colour the more outstanding it is...which makes this one very visible indeed and bound to excite comment.  But will people believe it's an aquilegia?     
 Aquilegia
'White Star'

also known as 'Kristall'

& 'Crystal Star'

Aquilegia 'White Star'Long spurred white: dreamy, creamy blooms. Note, seedlings WILL have purpleyness to their stems, unlike vulgaris whites and the other white long-spurred type that I offer. 

 Aquilegia ex
‘William Guiness’ 
 Aquilegia 'William Guiness', also known as ‘Magpie’, such a perfectly fitting name for the (just about) black-and-white flowers. This is justifiably many people's favourite aquilegia. Do grow it if you don't already. Featured in my 'Six of the best Aquilegias' in Gardeners' World magasine, May 2007.
 Aquilegia ex
‘William Guiness’ doubles

 

Just in case you already have the single……here’s the double version.  Just wait ‘til your friends see!  ....and have you seen the golden leafed version: 'Golden Guiness' double forms? Last years' seeds, so double-sized packets.

 
 Aquilegia Winky ex pale pink

Epecially bred to cheerily look up at you! Shorter plants about 12-20" high. A bed of these looks fantastic....I think it's the closest to 'bedding' with aquilegias that you can get! Though of course you don't need to use them like that....just in the normal way or about 3 in a large pot looks great.  Last years' seeds so double-sized packets

Aquilegia Winky pale pink form
 Aquilegia Winky type ex purple

 Upward facing blooms.  Last years' seeds so double-sized packets

Aquilegia Winky purple form
 Aquilegia Winky type ex white

 Upward facing blooms.  New for 2013

 Aquilegia Winky
ex red & white

Upward facing blooms.     

 Aquilegia Winky type
 ex indigo & white

Blue with white is ALWAYS a winner! Upward facing blooms. sorry no pic

New for 2013  

 
 Aquilegia Winky ex red & white double

 Upward facing? Of course!  New for 2013

 ~Aquilegia 'Woodside White' Double white flowers, variegated leaves. Cool and lovely.

Photo from Plant World. I have a few seeds for 2013 from an untried source. Interested?

 
 Aquilegia 'Woodside Blue'  

Double indigo flowers over variegated foliage.   There are new cultivars out called 'Leprechaun's Gold'  and 'Lime Frost', which has the same description.  Does anyone know if they are the same or otherwise how they differ?  I can't find much difference, can you?

 

  • Looking for even more inspiration? Robert Hock's Aquilegia video on YouTube shows many named forms, visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyXAtj6hdwM and enjoy the show!
  • Described forms, all seeds are £2 a packet, cheaper for 6 packets or more
  • This list starts with singles, long spurreds, then doubles, then coloured leaf forms . Similar colours have been grouped together within those sets.

    Note: 'ex number' is the number and description is of the parent plant...it's hoped that some, at least, will come true.

     Aquilegia white flower

    usual 3' or

     choose 2'

    A single white, ever popular.  Select seedlings without any purpley hue to the leaf stalks of the seedlings. Seedling plants flowering in 2008 were noticed to have three main heights.  I assume therefore, that I have a shorter type (2'ish) a normal height (3'ish) and a hybrid.

      AMAZING FACT:   Aquilegias are also known as 'columbine' which is French for 'dove'. can you see the 5 doves sitting in a circle having a good old natter 'tete-to-tete'?

     Aquilegia white flower

    short plantsAll are 12-24"

    choose ex 1119

    ex 1762

    or ex 1324

    ex 1119 was from 'short almost bell-shaped white' Poss flabellata type

    ex 1762

    18" tall was from a lost label so parentage therefore unknown     NEW FOR 2013

     

     

    ex 1324 short white is shortest, dwarf sized ex kuhistanica  NEW FOR 2013

     

    Aquilegia

    ex delicate

    white single

     Whites always show up so well in the garden shortish: 20-30" high, these are particularly delicate white singles
    New for 2013
    Aquilegia

    ex

    white single

    MIX including unusuals

    Collected from various white-flowered plants including those with a hint of cream or pink (right) to them New for 2013
    ex slender white I grew this originally from so-called A. coerulea seed...to which its shape and colour bear no resemblance!  For years, although visitors praised it's sleek lines and slightly creamy whiteness, I only collected seed as a mix of all my white singles.  Then I decided to see if it came true from seed.  It does!  Just as well, as meanwhile my parent plant passed on.  Do grow it, it's quite delightful! The photo here compares it with the 'normal' white vulgaris flower: which is whiter, shorter and wider.                 Few seeds. DO YOU KNOW WHAT THIS IS? If so please let me know.
    Aquilegia

    ex1513

    Creamy single

     

    Creamy flowers, mid-sized with a scent. This is a hybrid, so don’t know what the offspring will be like.


    Aquilegia

     

    Ex 1505 Creamy single

     Creamy flowers. This is a hybrid, so don’t know what the offspring will be like.

    Flowered first time 2010 and made a real impact over a long period. Possibly a self-sown seedling from chrysantha, but flowers are vulgaris-sized.

    Aquilegia

     Ex 1970 yellow single

     

    From a pinky-orange & yellow double came this charming, nodding yellow single. Love it!

      New for 2013
    Aquilegia

     Ex 1506 Blushed yellow single

     This is a hybrid, so don’t know what the offspring will be like, it's possibly a self-sown seedling from chrysantha, but flowers are mid-sized.  More below of similar with greater pink tints in them in the bicoloured list.
    Aquilegia ex 324 white flushed pink Drat, no pic. Starts white then develops a delicate pink flush     
    Aquilegia ex 1450 off-white

    Pinky, off-white single.  Sold out 2013..well I can't find the seeds!

    Aquilegia

    ex 1170

    Lightest marbled red.

    Largish flowers on this plant of a rare lightest marbled red. 'marbled' is how I describe reds and blues that are blended with white to give a colour that is different to eg lightest pink.

    As white is blended with the colour you can select at seedling stage: look for no purpleyness to the leaf stem.   OOPS in 2013 it had mainly DOUBLE flowers!! after 2 years as a single flowered plant!

    What colour is pink?

    How do I describe flower colours? I do the best that I can, and hope to get it right most of the time, eg that a dark pink is described the same whether it’s in my front garden or the back garden! But what I call dark pink may not be what you imagine as that.

    Here I have taken a photo that should help. Starting at the BOTTOM is what I call palest pink, and going CLOCKWISE there is pale pink, pink, dark pink and finally ruby. Is that helpful?

    Aquilegia

     Palest pink single

     

    Shows up really well.

    A delicate beauty 

    Aquilegia

    Light pink single

     

     

    Quiet charm, that lights up the garden.

    Aquilegia

     pink single

     

     

    Good sugar-pink colour.

    Aquilegia

    ex1511

    delicately held pink single

     Nice dark stem, ex A nigricans  New for 2013
    Aquilegia

    ex1867

    Tall 2-tone pink

     Tall plant 2-tone pink (apricotty-cream) flowers with longish spurs. 'Rescued' from my plant sales area, so don't know the parentage! Very long season of flowering. New for 2013
    Aquilegia

    ex1897

    2-tone pink

     

    Largish flowers on this atrata x coerulea hybrid, ..  and some were doubles New for 2013
    Aquilegia

    dark pink single

    Aquilegia

     ruby single

    Good ruby (crimson) colour. 
    Aquilegia

    ex 1277

    unusual red

    Slightly curly petals & sepals that only open as wide as the photo shows. A seedling from 'Flamboyant'!  

     New for 2013

    ex 613   Reddy, spreading petals. That incredible colour as well as the wide spread of the open inner petals makes this a much loved plant.  I'm sure we'll get loads of interesting offspring. COMMENT 2009. OFFSPRING REALLY GOOD. Not the same at all, but I kept most of them as very desirable traits.     

     

    ex 1551
    Light-edged, reddy spreading
     

    Surprisingly coloured seedling from 1030, a purple and white double stellata type. Longer-spurred.The photo LHS shows it with a similarly coloured astrantia. Goodness knows what offspring will be like.....

         New for 2013

     

    ex 1806
    Ice-blue-grey single
     

    One of the marbled blue shades that I so love, here in ice-blue with a grey tone (probably a purpley cast to it).

         New for 2013

     

    Aquilegia  ex1293
    2-tone marbled blue single
    Pale 2-tone marbled blue single. THIS was one plant that everyone wanted when they saw it....I had to quickly get it into my border so that I didn't have to keep saying 'no' to visitors!
    Last year’s seeds, so double-sized packets.
     
    Aquilegia  ex

    1442 light marbled purple single

    Definitely desirable!
    Aquilegia  ex

    1760 pale marbled blue single

    Surprising  seedling from a cross I made of 821 (creamy-white and blue double) with 835 (pink & yellow double). This seedling has leaf stems with no purple hue to them, so I knew it would be rather different to its parents.  Goodness knows where the marbled blue shade came from! Offspring may be very variable, let’s find out.


    New for 2013
    Aquilegia  ex

    1246 marbled blue variable

    A real show-stopper. Joyful & lovely. Most flowers are single, but with a smattering of doubles to add even more interest.


    Aquilegia  ex 1788 blue-purple thin blades

    I love those very unusual long thin blades (the part of the petal that is lowest on this photo, the ‘inner circle’ as seen from below.

    Seedling from 999 which also has long thin blades but is nearly black in colour with a white edge.


    New for 2013
    What colour is blue?

    How do I describe flower colours? I do the best that I can, and hope to get it right most of the time, eg that a good blue is described the same whether it’s in my front garden or the back garden! But what I call blue may not be what you imagine as that. My photos of each plant should help, but remember digital pics enhance blueness. Here I have taken a photo that should help. Starting at the TOP LEFT is what I call blue, and then good blue (yes, those are subtle differences). Bottom row is purple then indigo-purple. Is that helpful?

    Aquilegia  ex 1574 early  good blue single

    Shorter, at 14-18” / 30-40cms this very early single probably came from seed of an alpine form, but this is far taller. I hope that offspring will include the trait of early flowering as well as colour and flower form...they are held nearly horizontally.

    New for 2013

     

    Aquilegia  blue single The original wild form is this shade. So this is great for the wild garden as well as anywhere else. The shade is on the purple side of blue.

     

     
    Aquilegia  ex 1146 good blue single This plant has a really good blue colour to the flowers (not really apparent on the photo...sorry).

    Last year’s seeds, so double-sized packets.

     
    Aquilegia  ex

    859  scented 2-tone blue

    Came from fragrans seed.  
    Aquilegia  ex 678

     

    2-tone blue lightly scented

    Strong and floriferous plant.

    Last year’s seeds, so double-sized packets. Sold out 2013

     
    Aquilegia  

    indigo singles

    Nice dark blues.  
    Aquilegia  ex 1827 tall indigo, lighter inside Hmm, looks purple on the photo, oh well! Expect very variable offspring as this is a deliberate cross of yellow-leaved 'Elegance' with an unknown pollen parent....unknown because the label became unreadable! There’s definitely a yellow hue inside the flowers, so I expect that the cross was with some type of flower with yellow in it. Some flowers were double....don’t know if that will be continued. New for 2013
    Aquilegia ex 1625 large 

    indigo single

    Hmm, again looks purple on the photo. These are large flowers on a shorter plant 18" / 50cms. Goodness knows what the offspring will be like as this is a hybrid of buergeriana x vulgaris from Austria! New for 2013

    Aquilegia ex 1626 large 

    indigo single

    Again looks purple on the photo. These are large flowers on a slightly shorter plant 2-2.5’ / 60-85cms. Goodness knows what the offspring will be like as the mother parent plant was a red & yellow double from Austria! New for 2013

    Aquilegia ex 2060 large 

    indigo-purple single

    Brother to the above, hese are large flowers on a slightly shorter plant 2-2.5’ / 60-85cms. Goodness knows what the offspring will be like as the mother parent plant was a red & yellow double from Austria!New for 2013

    Aquilegia ex 2118 large 2-tone indigo-purple single

    Another large flower in an indigo-purple shade although the seed parent was supposed to be the yellow species A. flavescens!  The 2-tone shade includes a yellowyness inside the flower, so it looks as if it has some yellow genes, so let’s see what the offspring are like. I always appreciate feedback of what types of flowers are grown from my seeds, so do let me know.  New for 2013

    Aquilegia

    Purple single

     

     

     

    Richly coloured flowers.   

     
    Aquilegia

    Purple pinched petals single

    Open flowers, with an interesting pinch to the petals   ex A glandulosa

    New for 2013

    Aquilegia

    ex 1994 black, lighter inside

     

    Interesting seedling, supposedly  from A. buergeriana!

       New for 2013

    Aquilegia

    ex 1773 short black single

    Another strange one, supposedly from A colchica, which Nold's monograph says should be blue & white.

     NEW FOR 2013

    Aquilegia

    ex 1679-80 black single

     

    Seedlings of A. ‘Ballerina’ all came out exactly the same....but as a black single rather than a pink double.  I strongly suspect this was wrongly-labelled seeds. If I’m wrong you may get pink doubles amongst your seedlings. Strong & floriferous.

    NEW FOR 2013

    Aquilegia

    ex 954 black single

     

    Such gorgeous contrast of the yellow anthers against the near-black petals.  Ex Aquilegia 'Miss M I Huish', a 'Black Barlow type.' 

    Aquilegia

    ex 1158 black single

     

    Single black flowers.

     

     NEW FOR 2013

    Aquilegia

    ex 1201

    Black single

     

    Black single. Ya-wow!   Sold out 2013
     

    Now we move onto the Touchwood range of seeds from

    BICOLOURED SINGLES.

    Firstly the vulgaris-types then the long-spurred ones.

     
    Aquilegia

    1071 hint of a tint of pink, and white

    Palest, palest pink in the sepals, with green tips. White petals.
    Aquilegia

    ex 1796

    lilac pink & creamy single

     

    Rather taller than usual, at 3.5’ / or just over a metre high, this has longish straight spurs. A strong and long-flowering plant.  As this is a seedling from 955 (creamy yellow single) so offspring will be variable.  New for 2013

    Aquilegia

    ex 1297

    marbled blue and white.

     

     

     

    Pale marbled blue and white.

    Last year’s seeds, so double-sized packets.

    Aquilegia

    ex 188 lilac & white

     

     

    Not only a most beautiful lilac and white, but very early, and scented too!

     Last year’s seeds, so double-sized packets.  Sold out 2013

    Aquilegia

    ex 1326

    dwarf blue & white

    This dwarf blue and white single came  from purported A kuhistanica seeds ....but that species is unlikely to actually exist. This is pretty though, isn't it?  New for 2013

    Aquilegia

    ex 1771

     blue and white

    From seed that I had labelled A colchica, this is certainly the correct colour and has the strongly hooked spurs. However the blades are not truncate and I have no idea if this actually resemblesA colchica, especially as sister seedlings were very different. New for 2013 and well worth growing even if offspring are variable. 

    Aquilegia

    ex 1212

     small blue and white

    Although most flowers are single, and produced over a very long season, this small blue and white started out with double flowers with a distinct yellow glow to the white. Tall, a good 4’ 130cms, and floriferous yet setting very few seeds indeed. Expect variable seedlings. New for 2013   Sold out 2013

    Aquilegia

    ex 1383 large indigo-blue & white  

     

    Most amazing hybrid (it came from a lemon pink long-spurred!). It just flowered and flowered for about 10 weeks (2010) at about 3.5-4’ tall (1-1.2m). Early flowers had deformed spurs (bumbles?) but later showed the beautiful long curled spurs that adorn this plant. What on earth will offspring be like? Let’s find out! 

    1383 aquilegia blue & white, large flowered
    Aquilegia

    ex 1876 large indigo & white  

     

    Possibly a self-sown seedling of the above plant, 1383, but darker NEW FOR 2013

    Aquilegia

    ex 534

    large indigo & white 

     Fairly late flowering is this large indigo and white scented
    Aquilegia ex 1677 large indigo & white Indigo & white, large flower, the mother plant was 821, a double.  NEW for 2013
    Aquilegia

    ex 1908  blue & creamy hybrid

    longer spur

     

    An exciting hybrid of Aa.‘Elegance’ x chrysantha so expect very variable offspring including golden leaved ones. Some flowers were double, and you can see the yellow influence of the chrysantha genes in the colour as the buds open. NEW FOR 2013

    Aquilegia

    ex 2120  blue & creamy hybrid

    longer spur

     

    Another exciting hybrid this time of Aa.‘Elegance’ x ? ...where ? means I couldn’t read the writing at harvest-time! The photo is actually of the above 1908 as I have no photo of this one (I wasn’t going to keep it then realised I couldn’t bear to part with it!). Again, expect very variable offspring including golden leaved ones.  NEW FOR 2013

    Aquilegia

    ex 1974 large indigo-purple & white hybrid single

     

    An interesting hybrid of a huge blue & white double with a ruby & white long-spurred cultivar. Offspring will therefore vary.

     

    NEW FOR 2013     Sold out 2013

     

    Aquilegia

    ex 1880  purple-indigo & white single

     

    Lovely spurs.

    Chance seedling from my slender white single. Offspring will vary.

    NEW FOR 2013

     

    Aquilegia

    ex 1542 white-edged indigo single

     

    A seedling from 999, a white-edged black, like 1673 below.

    NEW FOR 2013

     

    Aquilegia

    ex 1470purple & white

     

    Isn’t that lovely?

    It has quite spreading blades, and came from 1000, purple striped with an open centre.

    NEW FOR 2013

     

    Aquilegia

    ex 884 deep purple & white

     

    Well-coloured single.

    NEW FOR 2013

    Aquilegia

    ex 2059 black & white single

     

    From a red & white stripy parent came this black and white single

      NEW FOR 2013

    Aquilegia

    ex 1864 black & white single

     

    From the same red & white stripy parent also came this black and white single....with some double flowers.  

      NEW FOR 2013

    Aquilegia

    ex 999 white-edged black long blades.

    Deep purple-black with a white trim.

    This is giving rise to some very desirable offspring including similar ones to itself, eg 1673

    Isn’t that different?   NEW FOR 2013

    Aquilegia

    ex 1673 white-edged black long blades.

    Deep purple-black with a white trim. Look at those long blades (the inner ring that hangs down). From 999, which is very similar.

       NEW FOR 2013

    AQUILEGIA TOUCHWOOD
    HARMONY MIX

    yellow bicoloured mix from 6 parents

       New for 2013

    These are unusual, they are the sorts of colours found in large, long-spurred aquilegias, but these are often only vulgaris-sized blooms. Some may hold their heads hanging like the vulgaris cultivars rather than the long-spurred ones, which face outwards. Yes, you’ve guessed, these are hybrids. Because of this, you’ll be likely to get some very different and unusual offspring from this seed mix.

    There's also the opportunity to buy seeds from individual plants, as featured below.

    harmony mix

    Aquilegia

    ex 1507

    2-tone yellow

     

    These 2-tone (or blushed) yellow flowers are midsized and borne on a plant that may prove to be slightly shorter than the usual 3’.  This is a self sown seedling, possibly from chrysantha (that I thought usually came true....what results have YOU had with Touchwood’s chrysantha seeds?).  A hybrid, so offspring likely to be very variable ....and probably desirable as well!

     

    Aquilegia

    ex 1907 pink & creamy single  

     I  lost the label, but this is possibly an ‘Elegance' x chrysantha   hybrid NEW FOR 2013

     
    Aquilegia

    ex 1828 dark pink, lighter inside single  

     Another exciting hybrid this time of Aa.‘Elegance’ x ? ...where ? means I couldn’t read the writing at harvest-time!  Again, expect very variable offspring including golden leaved ones.  NEW FOR 2013

     
    Aquilegia

    ex 1656 pink & yellow single  

     This came from a red & yellow double. Offspring may give exciting surprises!   NEW FOR 2013

     
    Aquilegia

    ex 904 pink & yellow single  

     Seedling from 'Perfumed Garden' mix  NEW FOR 2013

    Aquilegia

    ex 1757 small orange & yellow  single  

     Small flowers in orange and yellow. From a blushed yellow double.

     NEW FOR 2013

    Aquilegia

    ex 1739 large dark pink & yellow  single  

     Large flowers in pink and yellow. From a pink & yellow double.

     NEW FOR 2013

    Aquilegia

    ex 1232 dark pink & yellow      

                   

    This dark pink single has yellow inside the rim, on a plant growing to about 15-24” tall (50-65cms)  A hybrid, so offspring likely to be very variable. 

    Aquilegia

    ex 1723 red and creamy, largish

     

    Creamy yellow centre on this unusual bicolour, from a blushed yellow double..

    NEW FOR 2013

    Aquilegia

    ex  1655  maroon & yellow single 

     

    The maroon colour is ‘sludgier’ on the outside, I love it!  From a red & yellow double

      NEW FOR 2013

    Aquilegia

    ex  1435 faded lilac & yellowy single 

     

    One of the most beautiful aquilegias I have seen. Subtle colouring, lovely form,  and  just a little larger than a vulgaris bloom. Lightly scented.  A chance seedling from longissima (which may have been another yellow species, it usually is!). VERY few seeds are set either naturally or when I cross-pollinated or selfed it....most crosses failed or offered few seeds. NEW FOR 2013   Sold out 2013

    Aquilegia

    ex  1578 purple & yellow single 

     

    Very desirable colours, will it pass these onto its offspring? Parent plants were 821(blue and creamy white double) x 835(pink & yellow double). I tried crossing this plant with 3 different others (including itself), and all failed, luckily there’s some open-pollinated seed available.

      NEW FOR 2013

     
    Aquilegia

    ex  1725 dark with yellow inside single 

     

    Wow, how good is THAT!? A seedling of ‘Elegance’ x ?...yes the cross-pollination label faded before harvest so only the mother parent was known. This has ‘Elegance’s dark colour but is bicoloured with yellow inside, so presume yellow genes from the pollen parent. Hopfully I’ll get some golden leaved aquilegias in the next generation, and so will you.   NEW FOR 2013

     
    Aquilegia

    ex 1744 large indigo-purple & creamy single

     

    From a large purple & white double. Pic lhs shows 1744 vs an indigo coloured sepal.

    Another seedling, like the above, of ‘Elegance’ x ?...yes the cross-pollination label faded before harvest so only the mother parent was known.NEW FOR 2013

    NEW
     HYBRIDS from TOUCHWOOD

    I’ve had great fun with hybridising in 2011 and seeing the results this year, 2012. There are some hybrids (f1 generations) that appear fairly uniform, because their two parent plants were standard cultivars, strains or species. Here I share with you some of those splendid ranges. Choose which hybrid and you will usually get seed from a particular numbered plant.....if you want to try seed from different plants then that’s what you will get if you order more than 1 packet of a certain hybrid.

    Be aware you will NOT get offspring the same as these plants. You will be growing the f2 generation so expect a glorious array of all sorts of characteristics from each of the parent plant as well as the hybrid itself. That’s why I inform you what the parentage is, both here and elsewhere in my list where I offer plants grown from seeds that I have pollinated myself.

    NEW FOR 2013    There will also be further consternation/excitement/chaos/fortune caused by natural cross-pollination by bumble bees bringing in OTHER characteristics (genes) not found in these hybrids or their parents. Buy, sow, and have fun! And do let me know your results.

    I find growing long-spurred types difficult here in Swansea, I think our winters are to ‘warm’ and wet for them to thrive. These  hybrids show tremendous vigour, the 1 year old plants were far larger than I think I’ve ever grown any long-spurreds in one year....though most were also grown to flowering in nursery rows rather than being potted up in the winter.

    Aquilegia

    ex TOUCHWOOD HYBRID A

    Pink & creamy long-spurred

    2-2.5'

    NEW FOR 2013

     

    HYBRID A is Aquilegia chrysantha x a “dark pink & cream long spurred”

    There was some variation in colour tint of the pink and the cream in these offspring, however the differences were not as great as tint differences between when a flower first opens and the colour it fades to when fully open and mature. You can see those differences for yourself with the 2 photos that show 2 flowers....both have a just-opened and a more mature flower.

     

    Aquilegia

    ex

     TOUCHWOOD HYBRID B

    2-3'

    Red & creamy yellow long-spurred

    NEW FOR 2013

     

    HYBRID B is

    Aquilegia chrysantha x

    a “red & white long spurred”

    Very little variation between plants, see the photo top left of 2 flowers, each from a different plant.

    .NEW FOR 2013

    Aquilegia

    ex HYBRID C 

    3' 1m

    Red & yellow long-spurred

    NEW FOR 2013

     

    The flowers are rather smaller than Touchwood Hybrids A & B, but the phenomenal colours make them more magnificent in the garden. The next generation of plants should include larger sized flowers as the A chrysantha genes

    HYBRID C Aquilegia chrysantha x a “red & yellow species type”

    Very little variation between plants, a really intense red & yellow, a real showstopper. I had so many plants all the same that I sold some and they went as quickly as I put them out. Strong plants and very floriferous over a very long period, they only disappointed me because they set very little seed indeed.

    come into play.

    NEW FOR 2013

    Long spurred

    hybrids

     

      Below I offer some seed from some choice long-spurred hybrids. Will they come true? I don't know, but all are likely to be desirable plants.

     

    Artist Sandra Candler has beautifully captured the airy nature, charm and impact of these type of flowers in this beautiful painting.

     

     

    Aquilegia

    ex 1657 large  white not quite a long-spurred

     

    The most spectacular plant in the nursery rows in full flower for the first time, 2012. Must be the biggest plant I’ve ever grown in 1 year! It was supposed to be ‘silver Queen’ a white long-spurred sort but evidently a hybrid as not really long spurred, but still the same large blooms. It flowered early and just kept going until one of the last to still be in flower. Why? Well, unfortunately it set very little seed, sometimes these hybrids are like mules and just are not fertile.  NEW FOR 2013

     
    Aquilegia

    ex creamy-white long-spurred

     

    I have seed from several of these plants. NEW FOR 2013

     
    Aquilegia creamy white long-spurred at Touchwood 
    Aquilegia

    ex 2055 nodding cream & creamy-white long-spurred 

     

    A cross of buergeriana and chrysantha, so expect surprise offspring!

    NEW FOR 2013  Sold out 2013

     
    Aquilegia

    ex 2117 2-tone  creamy long-spurred 

     

    Slightly blushed, is this Harbutt’s hybrid.

    NEW FOR 2013

     
    Aquilegia

    ex 2069 white & light yellow long-spurred 

     

    From a cream & white long-spurred, this has more yellow tint.

     

    NEW FOR 2013

     
    Aquilegia

    ex salmon long-spurred

     

    Love the colour on this long-spurred.

    NEW FOR 2013 

     
    Aquilegia

    ex1812 pink & white long-spurred

     

    From a red & white long-spurred. NEW FOR 2013 

     
    Aquilegia

    ex red & cream long-spurred

     

    . NEW FOR 2013 

     
    Aquilegia

    ex 2010 dark pink  & creamy long-spurred

     

    . NEW FOR 2013 Mother plant was a red & yellow double.

    Aquilegia

    ex 1046

    Dark pink and cream long-spurred

     

    Dark pink and cream long-spurred.

    Last year’s seeds, so double-sized packets

     

    Aquilegia

    ex 1008

    dark blue and  white long-spurred

     

    Flowered for the first time in 2009, so is proving long-lived for these sorts of plants at Touchwood. Hopefully the offspring will also be suited to our conditions, although the colours in resulting seedlings may vary.
    Aquilegia

    ex 1909

    purple and  white long-spurred

     

    New for 2013  
    Aquilegia

    ex

    1466 purple & creamy white long-spurred

     

      NEW FOR 2013

     
    Aquilegia

    ex

    1496 2-tone  smallish yellow long-spurred

     

    Rather nice flowers, came from a yellow double so offspring may offer some good surprises.

     

    Aquilegia

    ex

    2091 yellow mid-sized long-spurred

    Good yellow colour.

    NEW FOR 2013

     
    Aquilegia

    ex

    1826 nodding 2-tone yellow long-spurred

    I absolutely love this. A long spurred 2-tone yellow yet with nodding blooms. And some scent. A seedling from a cross of buergeriana x chrysantha by my Austrian friend, so expect unusual offspring. NEW FOR 2013

    Aquilegia

    ex

    2003 yellow mid-sized long-spurred

    A flavescens seedling

    NEW FOR 2013

    Aquilegia

    ex

    1356 2-tone yellow long-spurred

     

    NEW FOR 2013

    Aquilegia

    ex

    1992 blushed yellow mid-sized long-spurred

    Chrysantha x blushed yellow double.

    NEW FOR 2013

    Aquilegia

    ex

    1559 blushed yellow smallish long-spurred

    NEW FOR 2013

    Aquilegia

    ex

    1996 blushed yellow  long-spurred

    A flavescens seedling

    NEW FOR 2013

    Aquilegia

    ex

    1658 blushed yellow  long-spurred

    Seedling from a double in these colours.

    NEW FOR 2013

    Aquilegia

    ex 1065

     

    Yellow long spurred with blushed sepals. Wow...this this was a floriferous winner this year (2010) with a strong yet delicate presence over a long period. 

    Pic also shows the double 1061 which has similar colouring.

    Last year’s seeds, so double-sized packets

    Aquilegia

    ex 1676 dark pink & yellow long-spurred  

     

    Fairly short, this hybrid is a seedling of the cross buergeriana x vulgaris made by Robert Hock NEW FOR 2013

    Sold out 2013

    Aquilegia

    ex 1859 deep pink & yellow long-spurred  

     

    A McKana hybrid NEW FOR 2013

     

    Aquilegia

    ex 2116 dark pink & yellow long-spurred  

     

    A Harbutt's hybrid NEW FOR 2013

     

    Aquilegia

    ex 1737 dark pink & yellow long-spurred  

     

    Fairly short, 15" / 40cms this is a seedling of an orange & yellow double.

    Rather like a Spring Magic plant.

     NEW FOR 2013

     

    Aquilegia

    ex 1738 dark pink & yellow long-spurred  

     

    Fairly short, 15" / 40cms this is a seedling of an orange & yellow double.

    Brother to the above, but a stronger yellow.

    Rather like a Spring Magic plant.

     NEW FOR 2013

     

    Aquilegia

    ex 2011 orange & yellow mid-sized, nodding long-spurred  

     

    Seedling from a red & yellow double.

      NEW FOR 2013

    Aquilegia

    ex 2044 orangy-red & yellow mid-sized long-spurred

     

    Hybrid seedling from cross-pollination of A. chrysantha x a blushed yellow double . 2.5' 80-90cms

      NEW FOR 2013

    Aquilegia

    ex 2042 orangy-red & yellow mid-sized long-spurred

     

    Sister to the above, but taller at 3.5’ 100-120cms...the photo lhs shows them both growing together. 1633 is the special blue & white double behind them.

    Hybrid seedling from cross-pollination of A. chrysantha x a blushed yellow double .   NEW FOR 2013

    Aquilegia

    ex

    1341 orangey-red & yellow long spurred

     

    Aquilegia

    ex

    1825 red & yellow long-spurred

     

    A seedling from A. hinckleyana,  I love this, especially looking at the flowers from behind, and the buds before they open. NEW FOR 2013

     

    Aquilegia

    ex 1995 rose & yellow long spurred

     

    NEW FOR 2013 Seedling from (supposedly) A. flavescens.

    Aquilegia

    ex 1220 red & yellow long spurred

     

    NEW FOR 2013

    Aquilegia

    ex 1824 short red & light yellow long spurred

     

    NEW FOR 2013 Seedling from A buergeriana!  About 10” tall / 25cms, and with red-tinged leaves.

    Aquilegia

    ex 1675 short red & yellow long spurred

     

    NEW FOR 2013 Seedling from a red & yellow double, very similar looking to Spring Magic rose & ivory, but this one is a little darker in colour.

    Aquilegia

    ex 1672 short red & yellow long spurred

     

    NEW FOR 2013 Sister to the above. Seedling from a red & yellow double.

    Aquilegia  ex 1832 light slaty purple & yellow long-spurred

    Great colouring.....seedling from a red & yellow long-spurred

    NEW for 2013

    Aquilegia  ex 1831 slatey maroon & yellow long-spurred

    Sister to the above ...seedling from a red & yellow long-spurred

    NEW for 2013

    Aquilegia  ex 1529 purple & yellow long-spurred

    Sister to the above two ...seedling from a red & yellow long-spurred

    NEW for 2013

    Aquilegia  ex 1665 burnished shades  long-spurred

    Great colouring.....

    Seedling from a crimson & white long-spurred.

    NEW for 2013

    Aquilegia  ex 1651 burgundy & yellow long-spurred

     

    NEW for 2013

    Aquilegia  ex 1742 burgundy &  yellow long-spurred

    Seedling from a similarly coloured long-spurred parent.

    NEW for 2013

    AQUILEGIA

    LONG-SPURRED MIX

    (from 35 mother plants)

    eg McKanas, Dragonfly, coerulea hybrids, Songbird series etc.

    USUALLY these are bicoloured, having either white or yellows as the second colour. The yellow, of course, can be any shade from creamy to orangey.

     
    Aquilegia Touchwood
    PHARAOH'S TREASURE MIX

    yellows mix from 17 parents

       New for 2013

    What a great selection....from all types of yellow singles with a few doubles added for even greater effect. Most parents were long spurred Aquilegia chrysantha types including blushed yellow ones, some will be smaller flowered or even nodding blooms.

    Pharoah's Treasure

     

    Now let's look at seed collected from my many and varied

     DOUBLE FORMS

    Then stellata (clematis-flowered) forms, then variegated and golden leaved

     

    Aquilegia

    ex 1148 short

    white double

     

     Upward facing flowers. NEW for 2013

    Whites of all sorts show up really well in the garden. Don’t forget, you can select white A. vulgaris seedlings as soon as they germinate, they have no purple in the leaf stem.

     

    Aquilegia

    ex 1441 white pleated double

    Beautiful, and so easy to place in the garden.

    NEW FOR 2013

    Aquilegia

    ex2075 white

    pleated double

     

     

    I’m separating out some more of my popular white doubles, so you can buy several types and have a wider gene pool.

    NEW FOR 2013

    Aquilegia

    ex 1641 white

    pleated double

     

    Supposedly a seedling from 835 (pink & yellow double) selfed!

    NEW FOR 2013

    Aquilegia

    ex1453 white full double

     

     

     Do you like these full, pompom-like doubles? Whatever happened to the old art of making wool pompoms to adorn bobble-hats? I guess people rarely knit their own hats now, they and the pompoms are machine-made.

    Aquilegia

    ex 1983 white pompom double

    Oops, just found out that I have no photo of this, the pic given will be a similar sort.


    NEW FOR 2013
    Aquilegia

    ex 1881 white variable double

    A chance seedling from my slender white single, this has longer spurs but very variable and unusual shape. Worth a go to find out what type of offspring will result.


    NEW FOR 2013
    Aquilegia

    ex 1400 creamy white double

    Again a most desirable form, the flowers are set off by dark stems and it is scented. Parentage unknown, this was a self-sown seedling.
    Aquilegia

    ex 1248 short  creamy white double

    A hint of lilac, and it is scented.  New for 2013
    Aquilegia

    ex 2056 large creamy white double

    A seedling from  buergeriana x chrysantha, from an Austrian friend. Goodness knows where the doubling came from!

    . New for 2013 Sold out 2013
    Aquilegia

    ex 1244 off-white spiky double

    Love this hybrid from my amazing red & yellow variable crossed by a marbled blue double . New for 2013    Sold out 2013
    Aquilegia

    ex 1497 hint of a tint of pink double

     

     

    The spiky pompoms of A. vulgaris stellata in their double Barlow form are always intriguing additions to your garden. Especially this one, it’s not a colour you’re likely to find elsewhere.

       
     

    Aquilegia

    ex 774

    Hint of a tint of pink full double

     

     

     

    Hint of a tint of pink full double

     

     
    Aquilegia

    ex 1615 colour-washed, warm white double

    A seedling from  a pink & yellow double, this has colour-washed spurs, very pretty.

    New for 2013
    Aquilegia

    ex 491 Hint of a tint of pink full double

    Oops. No photo, I’ve used the one from 774 on rhs and the lhs is of the mother plant (which itself came from ‘Flamboyant’).

     

    New for 2013
    Aquilegia

    ex 1714 Hint of a tint of pink pleated double

    From one described as ‘creamy yellow’ came this striking pleated double. I grew several and others were similar but more 2-tone, they are listed below in bicolours. Hopefully you, too, should get a good proportion (or all) similar ones. 2-tone colour, just creamy from the 'bottom/front' view Note the plant stems have little or no purple in them.

     

    New for 2013
     

    Aquilegia

    ex1120

    Short, light pink double

     

    Strong, short, light pink double  
     

    Aquilegia

    ex1363

     pink, with hint of apricot, small double

     

    Expect surprises as the parent plant was an A. ecalcarata!

     NEW FOR 2013
     

    Aquilegia

    ex 743

    Light pink pleated

     

    Light pink pleated double.

    Last year’s seeds, so double-sized packets.

     
    Aquilegia

     ex1637 pink double

    Has nice red stems. New for 2013
    Aquilegia

     ex1719 pink full double

    A sparkling addition to your collection. New for 2013
     

    Aquilegia

    ex 1154 pink pleated double

     

    Very special. The flowering performance of this plant is unsurpassed in my garden. Starts early, the first double to flower usually, alongside the ‘Spring Magic’ range, and gives its outstandingly spectacular performance for weeks. Parentage? Unknown as self-sown! 

    Last year’s seeds, so double-sized packets.

     

    Aquilegia

    ex 1264

    Pink variable

     

    Pink variable: most flowers are frilly doubles but some are singles or stellatas 

     

     

     
     

    Aquilegia

    ex1263 pink pleated double

     

    Pink pleated double  
    Aquilegia

    ex 1397 stellata pink double

     

    More double than the usual clematis-flowered stellata forms, but not as doubled as the Barlow type, is this rather alluring flower.

    Last year’s seeds, so double-sized packets.

     

    Aquilegia

    ex 1914 2-tone pink double

     

    Another exciting hybrid this time of Aa.‘Elegance’ x ? ...where ? means I couldn’t read the writing at harvest-time! Looks like there's yellow genes in there somewhere....  Expect very variable offspring including golden leaved ones.  NEW FOR 2013

     

    Aquilegia

    ex 1233 pink pompom double

    Gorgeous! NEW FOR 2013  Sold out 2013

     

    Aquilegia

    ex  pink pompom double

    Note the white-green stem, this is a marbled pink, some selection can be made as soon as they germinate (don’t waste the other seedlings though!). These marbled colours have white mixed in with the base colour to give unusual shades.

     

    NEW FOR 2013   Sold out 2013

     

    Aquilegia

     ex 1915 pink & white stripy open

     

    Delicate colours, seedling from 613 hence the open petals.

    NEW FOR 2013  Sold out 2013

    Aquilegia

    ex  pink stellata-type double

    Slightly doubled type of stellata. NEW FOR 2013

    Aquilegia

    ex spiky pink double

    Like a pink feather duster!  NEW FOR 2013

    Sold out 2013

    Aquilegia

    ex 1632 large  pink stellata-type double

    From an apricot-pink & yellow double came this one that evidently has stellata in its genes! LARGE flower, big impact. White stripes with the pink.

     NEW FOR 2013

     

    Aquilegia

    ex darkish pink double

    Sorry about the battered flower. We had gales. NEW FOR 2013

     

    Aquilegia

    ex 1385 dark pink Barlow type

     

    Isn’t that captivating? Should come fairly true from seed.

    Sold out 2013

     

     
    Aquilegia

     ex

    Ruby doubles

    Ruby doubles, from several plants.  
    Aquilegia

    ex 869 small crimson double

    Later flowers are small singles, very delicate. A seedling from my amazing red & yellow double. New for 2013

    Aquilegia

    ex 1877 ruby double

    Very different. Longer spurs, this was from a pink double that also had the longer spurs.

     

     New for 2013

     

    Aquilegia

    ex 1116 lilac double

    Extraordinary colour, lighter inside. ScentedNew for 2013

    Sold out 2013

     

    Aquilegia

    ex 905 lilac double

     New for 2013

    Aquilegia

     ex 900a

    Tall light blue double. 2010 I saw that my tallest plant in the border was this...and yet the label said '900 SHORT lilac stellata' Oops...looks like there were 2 seedlings and this flowered this year and almost took over the border with its height and floriferousness. Or should that be floriferocity?   

    Aquilegia

     ex 1597 tiniest hint of blue pleated double

    No, I cannot see the hint in this pic, nor on the flowers this year (2102) but it had been there the previous season, just a fine blue shadowing.

    New for 2013

    Aquilegia

     ex 1518 light marbled blue variable double

    Light marbled blue variable double.

    The photo shows some of the variation: a sort of stellata form.

    Last year’s seeds, so double-sized packets.

     

    Aquilegia

     ex 479 light marbled blue double

    Light marbled blue double.

    New for 2013

     

    Aquilegia ex 948 Barlow type of

    marbled blue double

    Marbled blue full double with green sepals  NEW FOR 2013

    Aquilegia ex 1684 Barlow type of

    marbled blue double

    Son of the above  NEW FOR 2013

    Aquilegia ex 1965

    marbled blue double

    Seedling from my slender white single.   New for 2013

    Aquilegia ex 1782

    marbled blue double

    Came as 'tower Light Blue' but this is a darker shade than all its siblings.  New for 2013

    Aquilegia ex 738

    marbled blue double

    Marbled blue full double with green sepals 

    Like all marbled blues, even these dark colours may be selected as soon as they germinate, just discard any with purple in the leaf stem.

    Aquilegia ex 1735 ?denim
    blue double

    This colour I usually describe as ‘denim’ because the dark blue is mixed with white. Yet on this one it has NOT got a white-green stem but one with purple in, despite the greeny sepals. Mother plant was described to me as a ‘lilac & white pleated double’.

      New for 2013
    Aquilegia ex

    742 good blue double

    A particularly good shade of blue, very vibrant and extremely floriferous.

    Aquilegia ex

    1804 good blue pleated double

    A good shade of blue, strong self-sown plant. NEW FOR 2013

    Aquilegia ex

    1634 2-tone blue frilly double

    Well scented, from a similar parent.  2' /  60-70cms NEW FOR 2013

    Aquilegia ex

    blue pompom

     NEW FOR 2013

    Aquilegia ex

    1417 indigo double

    Sorry, pic looks purple! NEW FOR 2013

    Aquilegia ex

    1499 indigo pompom double

    Bound to be popular! NEW FOR 2013

    Aquilegia ex

    1789 indigo pompom double

      If a flower has at least 5 rows of petals (and 10 around in a circle) ie 50 petals minimum, I'm terming it a pompom form. Some of the very best pompoms may have up to 10 rows...100 petals! NEW FOR 2013

    Aquilegia ex

    761 purply-blue pleated double

     NEW FOR 2013

    Aquilegia

    ex 1504 purple double

    Good purple colour in the popular pleated double form.

     

    Aquilegia

     ex1866 dark purple full double

    Large flowers on a shorter plant, from a double, dark crimson flower that had yellow inside.

    New for 2013

     

    Aquilegia

     ex 1743 2-tone purple double

    Good purple colour and some scent. Yes, the flower looks single....    New for 2013

     

    Aquilegia

    ex 1791 2-tone purple pompom

    Has some scent. Came from a similar mother plant.

    New for 2013

    Sold out 2013

    Aquilegia

    ex 1250 black  double

    Hmmm...  This started out as a bell-shaped single...when I took the photo, then later flowers were doubles, but I took no photo, sorry! Goodness knows what they were like...I don’t remember.

       New for 2013

     

    Aquilegia

    ex 791 black double

    All these flowers that I call ‘black’ are actually the closest to black that you can get in an aquilegia. There are some variations in colour depth between different plants, but usually the photos show more variation than is actually there as it depends on conditions and environment when the photo was taken. The ‘black’ is usually deepest crimson (like the colour in ‘William Guiness’ but sometimes it seems to me that its deepest indigo.

     

     New for 2013

    Aquilegia

    ex

    956 black feather duster

    Small flowers and rather different, like an elongated spiky Barlow and definitely feather-duster-like in shape.

    Last year’s seeds, so double-sized packets.  Sold out 2013

     

     
    Aquilegia

     ex 616

    black double

    Rich deep burgundy/black double

    Last year’s seeds, so double-sized packets.

     

    Aquilegia

    ex 13 black double.  

    Great combination, black Aquilegia No 13 with white flowers of Sweet Cicely (seed also available, see my general seedlist).

    NEW FOR 2013

     

    Aquilegia

    2002 black pleated double

    Surprise seedling from an apricot-pink & yellow mother plant!

    Whenever I use the word black I mean the deepest crimson that verges on black, although some may be slightly different shades and tones, they will all be satisfyingly dark, and very handsome. Cameras can never catch the depth of colour in these flowers....unless taken against a light background...then it can be overdone!

    NEW FOR 2013

    The list starts  pinks, reds then blues, purples to black. Now let's discover the current Touchwood range of seeds from BICOLOURED DOUBLES. Here the second colour is always white (or creamy). The table that follows this one, of the Connoisseur's Choice range, include many bicoloured plants with yellow as the second colour.
    Aquilegia

     ex palest pink & white pleated double

    Palest pink and creamy white. From one described as ‘creamy yellow’ came these striking pleated doubles. I grew several and all were the same so hopefully you, too, should get a good proportion (or all) similar ones.  Note the plant stems have little or no purple in them, and are more '2-tone' than 'bicoloured'. 1754 is lhs and 1756 rhs pic.   NEW FOR 2013

    Aquilegia

     ex 1999 pale pink & creamy hybrid, becoming double

     

    A wonderful pale pink & creamy white with longish spurs than then produced double flowers. This is a hybrid of ‘Elegant Ruby’ x a pink & yellow double. Therefore the next, f2, generation will likely be very variable including golden leaved ones.

    NEW FOR 2013

    Aquilegia

     ex 1630 pale pink & white hybrid,  double

     

    Sister to the above. This is a hybrid of ‘Elegant Ruby’ x a pink & yellow double. Therefore the next, f2, generation will likely be very variable including golden leaved ones.

    NEW FOR 2013

    Aquilegia

     ex 1640 pale pink & white double

     

    Seedling from a pink & yellow double, selfed.

    NEW FOR 2013

    Aquilegia

     ex 1837 pale pink & white pleated double

     

    A seedling from ‘Strawberry Icecream’ that is a lighter pink.

     

    NEW FOR 2013

    Aquilegia

     ex 1378 late pink & white double

    Besides being generally enchanting, this plant has another big benefit, it flowers rather later than most vulgaris, so extends the season. Let’s see what the offspring offer.

    Aquilegia

     ex 1945 pink & white pleated double

     Seedling from aquilegia 'Flamboyant'

    NEW FOR 2013

    Aquilegia

     ex 1985 pink & white full double

    From a ruby & creamy yellow double came this showstopper!

    See sister, below.

    .

    NEW FOR 2013

    Aquilegia

     ex 1624 pink & white pleated double

     

    Sister to the above and looks far better than the photo shows!

    NEW FOR 2013

    Aquilegia

     ex 1984 pink & white double

     

    Part of my breeding programme, came 835 (pink & yellow double) selfed. You can see the creaminess to the 'white', and there's longer spurs.

    NEW FOR 2013

    Aquilegia

     ex 1753 pink & white full double

    NEW FOR 2013

    Aquilegia

     ex 1631 pink & white double

     

    Perhaps more of a 2-tone pink, it starts quite creamy. This is a hybrid seedling of ‘Elegant Ruby’ x a pink & yellow double, so expect interesting offspring including golden leaved ones.

    NEW FOR 2013

    Aquilegia

     ex 1720 pink & creamy white small double

     

    Goodness knows the parent plant...I rescued this from my sales table because I couldn't bear to part with it!

    NEW FOR 2013

    Aquilegia

     ex 875 pink & white stripy double

    Pink and white spiky quilled striped double. New for 2013  
    Aquilegia

     ex 1223

    stripy pink and white double

     

    Loose stripy pink and white stellata-ish   

     

    Aquilegia

     ex

    1329 pink & white stripy loose stellata

     

    Voluptuous variable variety, very valuable! 

    Aquilegia

     ex 1875 pink & white stripy double

     

    Oh dear no photo, anyway ex 'Devon Sunshine', a pink & yellow double from Plant World.

    NEW FOR 2013

    Well worth sowing even though there's no photo!
    Aquilegia

     ex 1623 ruby & white pleated double

     

    From a ruby & creamy double.

    NEW FOR 2013

    Aquilegia

     ex 1622 ruby & white pleated double

     

    Sister to the above, from a ruby & creamy double.

    NEW FOR 2013

    Aquilegia

     ex 1759 red and white double

     

    This is a hybrid seedling of either ‘Elegant Ruby’ x ecalcarata   OR 613 x ?  yes, I muddled up the labels on 2 crosseds so it’s one or the other!!!!  Doesn’t ‘look’ like either set of parents is likely, but that’s aquilegias for you! I assume the next generation will guide me to know which cross it was!

     

    NEW FOR 2013

     

    Aquilegia

     ex

    1642 red & creamy double

    Opening creamy yellow than aging just about white. This is a hybrid seedling of a ‘William Guiness’ double form x ecalcarata , let’s find out what traits offspring have!

    Opening creamy yellow than aging just about white. This is a hybrid seedling of a ‘William Guiness’ double form x ecalcarata , let’s find out what traits offspring have!

    Note I also crossed the same mother with a pink & yellow double, which gave similar effect. Strange..see below New for 2013

    Aquilegia

     ex

    1816 red & creamy double

    Opening creamy yellow than aging just about white. This is a hybrid seedling of a ‘William Guiness’ double form x a pink & yellow double , let’s find out what traits offspring have!

    I’m hoping for more yellow in some of the f2 generation. New for 2013

    Aquilegia

     ex

    2006 deepest ruby, creamy inside double

    From an apricot pink & yellow double.

     

    NEW FOR 2013

    Aquilegia

     ex

    1459 crimson & white double

    Crimson & white double.

    Aquilegia

     ex 1259

    Crimson & white double

    Crimson & white double.

    Aquilegia

    ex 1790 ruby & white full double

     

    Exceptional, and upward facing. 

    From ruby and creamy double.

      New for 2013

    Aquilegia

    ex 1161 red & white striped tattydouble

    Large, somewhat  variable flowers, a seedling from’Flamboyant’.

    NEW FOR 2013

    Sold out 2013

    Aquilegia

    330 ruby & white Barlowish

     

    Complete with stripes!

      

    Aquilegia ex

    Red & white stripy double

     Enthralling.   

     
    Aquilegia

    ex 1700 large blue and white  double.

     

     

    Large blue and white double.

    From a large blue & white double x red & white long-spurred, so expect surprises from these seeds!.

     NEW for 2013

    ex 1457
    Blue and white double

    Blue and white double. 

    Seedling from ‘Flamboyant’, so expect varied offspring.

     

    Aquilegia

    ex 558 large blue and white frilly double.

    Large ...

    Look at the size compared to my hand!

     NEW FOR 2013

    Aquilegia

    ex 1801 blue and white double.

    Self-sown!. NEW FOR 2013

    Aquilegia

    ex 1777 large blue & white double

    These HUGE blooms started double then became single. Great buds!

    NEW FOR 2013
    Aquilegia

    ex 1766 large blue and white stripy double.

    From a friend’s similarly blue striped plant.

     NEW FOR 2013

    ex 821 indigo and white full double.

    Extraordinary, floriferous amazing indigo and white (starts creamy) double. 

    After 2 years of selling these seeds, I suddenly realised: it’s indigo & white not blue & white!

    ex 1633
    Blue and white double

    Blue and white double, starts creamy. It was a HUGE plant in it’s first flowering year (2012) and wowed everyone who saw it.

    Seedling from 821 (indigo & creamy double) x a pink & yellow double, so expect varied offspring.

    MOST AMAZING      NEW for 2013

    Aquilegia

    ex 1863 indigo

     and white full

     double

     

    Seedling from 821 (indigo & creamy double) x a pink & yellow double, so expect varied offspring.

    Sister to the above. Both these look very like their mother plant, I expect more of the fathers pink & yellow genes will be apparent in the next generation.

     NEW for 2013

    Aquilegia

    ex 1818 indigo & white double

    longer blades

    Indigo and white double from my slender white single. Very different and exciting. NEW FOR 2013
    Aquilegia

    ex 1149 Indigo & white frilly double

    Doesn’t look very double here, sorry it’s a poor flower. It is scented.

     

    NEW FOR 2013
    Aquilegia

    ex 1509 indigo & white double

    Indigo and white double, ex 'Flamboyance'!

    Slightly variable, a pleated double that may give stripy flowers.

    . NEW FOR 2013
    Aquilegia

    ex 1618 Indigo & white double

    From a pompom form.

    NEW FOR 2013
    Aquilegia

    ex 1636 indigo & white double

    From a red & white double....let’s hope for exciting variation from this one!

     NEW FOR 2013
    Aquilegia

    ex  1230 & 1843 Indigo & white full double

    1230 & 1843 are both seedlings from supposedly ‘Adelaide Addison’, and the first flowers certainly looked like that wonderful cultivar (left). However later flowers were very full doubles (right) which I don’t think is correct. Does anyone know?

    NEW FOR 2013
    Aquilegia

    ex 1861 dark indigo & white pleated double


    A little darker than 821, more an indigo-black colour, and has some stripiness on some flowers, see left.

    Seedling from 821 (indigo & creamy double) x a pink & yellow double, so expect varied offspring. NEW FOR 2013

    Aquilegia

    ex 1741 large indigo-purple & white double

    Huge, open double flowers. From a large blue & white double x red & white long-spurred, so expect surprises from these seeds!

     

    NEW FOR 2013

    Aquilegia

    Ex 889 unusual purple-blue  & white double

     

    Surprise seedling from a cream & apricot, and it’s scented.

     

    NEW FOR 2013

     

    Aquilegia

    ex

    1030 purple & white double

      

    A sort-of Barlow flower, which always attracts a lot of attention

    Aquilegia

    ex 1654 purple & creamy double

    From a delicate black & white double.

      NEW FOR 2013

    Aquilegia

    ex 1599  purple-black double

    Now THIS is special. A hybrid of ‘William Guiness’ double x A. ecalcarata (it gets that lovely curved flower stem from the later). The colour is slightly more purple than the black of ‘William Guiness’. It will be interesting to see the varied f2 offspring.

     

      NEW FOR 2013

    Aquilegia

    ex black, lighter inside, becoming double

    From an apricot pink & yellow double came this surprise seedling. Early flowers were single, I’ve included a photo so you can see the lighter colour inside. May give very exciting offspring!

      NEW FOR 2013

    Aquilegia

    ex 998 whiter-edged purple-black double

      

    Aquilegia

    ex 1179 delicate black & white double

    From a large lilac & white double.

     

      NEW FOR 2013

    Aquilegia

    ex 1005

     black & white double

    Varying from black & white to white-edged black ,double. 
    Aquilegia

    ex 1181 black & white  double

    Sometimes stripy. New for 2013
    Aquilegia

    Now let's look at the stellata or star forms.

    Also known as clematis-flowered.

     
    Aquilegia
    ex stellata white

     

     

     

     

     

    Stellata form, white. One of the unusual star or clematis-flowered forms. Do grow them in your garden and amaze your friends. 'Can those REALLY be aquilegias??!!  YES!!!  

    Aquilegia

    ex 2054

    white stellata-variable

     

    Not always a stellata form, see the spurs on the photo. Lost the label so I don’t know the parent plant!

     NEW FOR 2013
    Aquilegia

    ex 1494

    stellata grey-white

    Well not exactly grey but a greeny creamy white that isn’t as bright at the usual white sort. Has a special charm, due, I think, to the long curved stem from which the flower hangs. Mother plant was an unusual lilac double. 
    Aquilegia

    ex 2013 white not-stellata!

    Well, I’ve put this with the stellatas, as that’s the shape, but look, it has spurs on the flowers! Mother plant was a marbled blue Barlow type. Let’s find out what the offspring look like.   NEW FOR 2013
    Aquilegia

    ex 1740 pink variable clematis flowered

    From 'Flamboyant' NEW FOR 2013
    Aquilegia

    ex 1687 stellata creamy pink

    Very special.  NEW FOR 2013
    Aquilegia

    ex 1674 ruby stellata

    From 999, an unusual white-edged flower with long drooping blades.

     NEW FOR 2013
    Aquilegia

    ex 962 small ruby clematis-flowered type

    Not really a stellata form, see the spurs on the photo. But this fits in best here rather than elsewhere. I like using the term ‘clematis-flowered because these look like some sorts of clematis rather than the huge wise hybrids!  Small flowers.

      NEW FOR 2013
    Aquilegia

    ex 1315 ruby stellata

    Love that curved flower stem!

      NEW FOR 2013
    Aquilegia

    ex 1255 unusual crimson becoming stellata

    Dark colour, variable flowers, came from a ‘wine stellata’, so I assume it’s come ‘true’, or close to it.

      NEW FOR 2013
    Aquilegia

    ex 2019 ruby stellata

    From a creamy pink stellata, like 1687

    .  NEW FOR 2013
    Aquilegia

    ex 671 stellata light marbled blue

    Very special. 

    Stellatas usually come true from seed, as there are no spurs and that means no nectar and so no bees to cross-pollinate.

     NEW FOR 2013
    Aquilegia

    ex 1620 white-edged stellata variable

    Rather variable flowers, and I love the white edges.

    From a similar parent plant NEW FOR 2013
    Aquilegia

    ex 1787stellata blue, possibly variable

    Seedling from 613  NEW FOR 2013
    Aquilegia

    ex 2061 stellata indigo

    Seedling from 'Apple Blossom'.  NEW FOR 2013
    Aquilegia

    ex 2119 stellata indigo-purple

    NEW FOR 2013
    Aquilegia

    ex 1321 stellata purple

    From an darkish pink A. ecalcarata hybrid that looked rather like a Barlow shape.

      NEW FOR 2013
    Aquilegia

    ex stellata black

    Great impact.  NEW FOR 2013
    Aquilegia

    ex 1345 stellata  pink & white 

    Well, the first flowers were stellata forms, but then some sprouted spurs. Goodness knows what the parent was....the label had snapped!
     Last year’s seeds, so double-sized packets
    Aquilegia

    ex 2094 large pale pinky yellow variable stellata / long spurred

     I assume these forms (& see next entries) are hybrids of long spurred sorts with stellatas. In that case stellata shouldn't be used as a form, so I will use it here in a descriptive sense only! This is a seedling from 1015  NEW FOR 2013
    Aquilegia

    ex 1015
    Stellata type, HUGE pink flowers

    Stellata form, HUGE pink flowers on a tall plant: 4-5'.   At  least that's what it was in it's first year of flowering because in its second year things changed to become very variable. Alongside the stellata form was deformed ones and (best of the lot) large longish spurred pink and yellow striped flowers. I assume these forms (see next entries) are hybrids of long spurred sorts with stellatas. Can't wait to see the next generation! Sold out 2013
    Aquilegia

    ex 1099
    Peachy-pink stellata type

    Peachy-pink stellata. Well that was what it was in its 1st year (right) but this year (2010) its been variable with many flowers opening out to a peachy-pink and yellow long spurred type (left) 
    Aquilegia   The final sorts in this section are the ones with golden or variegated leaves.  
    Aquilegia

    ex 1942 pink, gold leaf

    Gold leaf, .  NEW FOR 2013
    Aquilegia

    ex 929

    (and other)

    Gold leaf, elegant deepest ruby almost black flower. (Right in pic below).  It's hard to see how this differs from 'Elegance' (Left in pic below) ...until you see them together. Bred at Touchwood 

    Last year’s seeds, so double-sized packets.

     

     

     

    Aquilegia ex gold leaf

    elegant indigo-purple

    Gold leaf, elegant indigo-purple flower. 

    Last year’s seeds, so double-sized packets.

    Aquilegia ex 1613ex gold leaf

    elegant purple

    Gold leaf, Sorry about the poor pic. 

    New for 2013

    Aquilegia

    ex 1524 gold leaf

    marbled pink double.

    Gold leaf,

    Hint of marbled pink double.

     

    Last year’s seeds, so double-sized packets.

    Aquilegia

    ex 920

    gold leaf marbled blue

    Gold leaf, marbled blue becoming double.

    Last year’s seeds, so double-sized packets.

    Aquilegia

    ex Lil's gold leaf blue & white

    Gold leaf,

    I’ve some spare seed of this from a friend, so you’ve also got the chance to try it.    Last year’s seeds, so double-sized packets.

    Blue & white
    Aquilegia

    ex 1167 variegated leaf, light pink

    Variegated leaf  NEW FOR 2013
    Aquilegia

    ex 729

    variegated purple stellata

    Variegated leaf

      New for 2013

    Aquilegia

    ex 1305

    variegated white double

    Variegated leaf,  Well, last year this was a hint of a tint of pink double, but I took no photo. This year I’d definitely call it w a white pleated double. I cannot see any hint of pink! Sortof new for 2013
    Aquilegia

    ex 898

    variegated indigo frilly double.

    Variegated leaf, indigo frilly double.  Last year’s seeds, so double-sized packets.   
    ~ Aquilegiachatlist

    Remaining seeds from the seed exchange. Monies raised will go to help run next year's exchange.

     Just order as: aquilegiachatlist and the description given below. If you don't say aquilegiachatlist then I won't be able to find them! Choose from these 5:

    TO BE ADVISED
    Spare seeds from the email interest group's seed exchange. Any monies raised helps to fund the exchange by contributing to postage and packaging costs.

     OR CHOOSE 10 for £10 incl postage It should be the 5 listed and 5 other donations (not listed, as Touchwood lists them above)...you'll have to be surprised!  If the ones on the list are out of stock you will have others that I've not listed here as they are duplicates of what I myself offer.

     Red  &  Yellow  Doubles!!!!!  I've started collecting double forms of red and yellow American types. I've now been granted National Plant Collection status from Plant Heritage to cover all these taxa. I don't think you're yet likely to see anything else like them!  However, if you DO know of others, please let me know, I want to increase my gene bank as much as possible.  Thank you.   ALL seeds are £2 a packet, reductions for 6 or more packets.

    Connoisseurs' Choice of doubles with yellow in them. Lots of   NEW FOR 2013!

  • Carrie, Just a quick note to let you know that I received my seed order last week and promptly got them stratified this past weekend.  Thanks again for offering these seeds and dealing with my order in a prompt and efficient manner.  I look forward to seeing the outcome of this purchase in 2011.   Best regards, Jonathan Thompson, Canada    Dear Carrie, you have done it again. You have infected me with the severest form of aquilegia fever. Here is my order for this year. A. Volkenborn, Germany. Coming to your website is always a feast for the eyes especially right now in the dead of winter. Blessings and thanks,” Maureen Smith, Ontario, Canada   A big thank you for the wonderful aquilegias that we have in our garden now following the acquisition of your seeds last year. They are quite splendid and thriving in spite of the weather and the North Yorkshire climate. Kindest regards, Mike Holden. 2012

    ex 1040

     

    yellow double.

       

    ex 1018
    yellow double

    Yellow double.    

      The first year from seed this was only 15" tall...now it's normal size. Why does this happen......could it be that the pots I re-use had contained plants that had been sprayed with something that keeps them compact? Is that possible...anyone know?

    ex 2109
    yellow double
     

    Yellow double, seedling from 1050.          New for 2013   

    ex 1765
    yellow full double
     

    Hybrid of a large blue & white double  x a pink & yellow double, expect exciting variations in the offspring!

           New for 2013   

    ex 911
    light yellow double, blushed

     

     

    Light yellow double with blushed spurs.

       

    ex 1639 small blushed yellow double

    From 1061 pink & yellow double comes this delightful character. Big enough (and on tallish plants, about 1m) to make a good impact in the garden, these are also dainty enough for me to use as a beautiful  corsage ....together with singles of a similar size and hues. New for 2013

     
    ex 1532 blushed yellow double

         New for 2013

    ex 1508 blushed yellow double

      

    As seen on TV! S4C Bwy yn yr Ardd, June 2012 LINK TO YOUTUBE VERSION.  It’s in Welsh, there’s a subtitle button to press to get English written captions.

        

    ex 1904 blushed strong yellow double

      

    Hybrid of A. chrysantha x pink & yellow double.

       New for 2013

    ex 1991 large blushed yellow double

      

    Hybrid of A. chrysantha x pink & yellow double.

       New for 2013

     
    ex 1281 pink & creamy double

    Lovely pink and creamy yellow double, the cream ages nearly white. Expect some offspring to be more yellow as this is a hybrid of an apricot-pink & yellow double x  a pink and yellow large double.

    New for 2013          

    ex 1188 purply-pink & creamy double

    Very light purply pink and creamy yellow double.            

    ex 1751 lilac & apricotty large double

    From a double pin k long spurred. Very special and such unusual shades that I'm putting it here.         

    New for 2013

    ex 828
    apricot pink full double

    Apricot pink full double, tending to become more pink as it ages.              

    ex 1039
    peachy double
     

     

    Peachy (yellow with pink) double. Also has some single flowers later.     

    ex 1629 pink & sunburnt yellow double

    A seedling from a red & yellow double, unusual colours, deepened by the effect of the sun. Starting as doubles, it then became singles. New for 2013

    ex 775
    dark pink shading to apricot full double

    Dark pink shading to apricot full double  ...the apricottyness doesn't show well in the photo....sorry.

    ex 691
    Red shading to apricot double

    Red shading to apricot double, an absolutely stunning showstopper plant, in glorious flower for weeks (if not months) right outside my front door. 4' tall so appreciates support. This is a seedling from my amazing red & yellow hybrid (see below).     

    ex 1779
    Pinky peach double

     Whoops no photo, seedling of an orange & yellow long-spurred

    New for 2013

     

    Rather like the above 691
    ex 1117
    cerise pink double

     Smaller flowers, that start as beautifully formed doubles then late flowers are rather nice singles. From  a red & yellow double. New for 2013

    ex 1905 pale pink & pale yellow double

    Large. Seedling from A. chrysantha x pink & yellow double. New for 2013            

    ex 1886 pale pink & pale yellow double

    And it's scented. Seedling from 'Devon Sunshine'. New for 2013            

    ex 1781 pinky & yellow double

    Aren't Aquilegias wonderful? Here's another hybrid of Aa.‘Elegance’ x ? ...where ? means I couldn’t read the writing at harvest-time! . New for 2013            

     
    ex 1803 lilac pink & creamy double

    Sister to the above, another hybrid of Aa.‘Elegance’ x ? There's bound to be interesting offspring and hopefully some with golden leaves. . New for 2013            

     
    ex 556 pink & light yellow double

    One of my earlier doubles with yellow in, sown 2006, first flowering in 2007 and still going strong. One of the reasons that I'm loving, and introducing, DOUBLES with yellow in is that I find it hard to grow, flower and keep the single species sort that parent these plants. I loved these doubles when I first grew them but wasn't as excited as I should have been, until I realised (quite some years ago now) that one was on it's 3rd year of flowering, and that these hybrid doubles had LONGEVITY as well as the ability to grow in South Wales' conditions. New for 2013    Sold out 2013        

     
    ex 1061
    Pink and yellow double

     Pink and yellow double.   An absolutely stunning plant and so floriferous!

    Last year’s seeds, so double sized packets.

    ex 835
    Pink and yellow double
     

    Early flowering, and giving similar and other good offspring.

     

    Pink and yellow double.   Started single the first year....then WOW ...when it became double it was an absolute show-stopper. In 2010 it was probably the first double pink/yellow aquilegia in flower....and nearly the last!           

    ex 1596
    Pink and yellow double

    Seedling from the above, selfed, so it was both mother and father to this one.

    oh no! no pic, rather like the above
    ex 1440 pink & yellow double

    Seedling from 1000, purple striped, so expect some surprises in the offspring! See this one in Touchwood's fairy garden.    

    ex 1919 pink & yellow double

    Seedling from huge blue & white double x pink & yellow double. Should get some great f2 plants! New for 2013

     
    ex 1056 dark peach & yellow double

    This plant started off with stunning double flowers, although later ones were large singles. 

    Last year’s seeds, so double sized packets.

       

     
    ex 1758 orangey-red & yellow double

    Ex 1061 pink & yellow double. 

    New for 2013

     

     
    ex 1711 orange & yellow double

    Ex 1061 pink & yellow double.  

    New for 2013

     

     
    ex 910 orangey-red & yellow double

    These colours are sensational, shining out at you.   

    Sold out 2013

    ex1681 dark pink & yellow double

    From a pink & yellow double, selfed.    New for 2013

     
    ex 1567 pink & yellow double

    From red & yellow pompom x apricot pink & yellow double. This hybrid flowers at 5' tall (150-160cms)  but unfortunately sets few seeds.     New for 2013

     
    ex 1533 orange-red & yellow double

    From a red & yellow double.  I find, on average, that I get at least 20%  of the seedlings coming up as 'doubles with yellow in' from the sorts of plants featured in this list. Some may have much larger percentages, and it will vary year-to-year depending on how busy the bumbles have been.    New for 2013

     
    ex 2089 pink & creamy becoming double

    Pink & creamy, becoming double. Exciting hybrid from 'Elegance' (presumably has ruby as well as black genes) x A. chrysantha.  

       New for 2013

     
    ex 1617deep pink & creamy double

    The creamy yellow ages to white. This is interesting, 'William Guiness' x a pink & yellow double. Looks like there's yellow genes in there, even if the petals then whiten, so hopefully the next generation will show some really interesting traits including some with permanent yellow.

       New for 2013

     
    ex 1729 dark pink & yellow double

    From 835, pink & yellow double, selfed. sorry no pic, it's a darker pink than 835 with is quite a light pink with the yellow.

       New for 2013

    Dark pink & yellow double 
    ex 1966 dark pink & yellow double

       New for 2013 Note this is a hybrid, so expect variable results, the mother plant was A. chrysantha and the pollen plant a pink & yellow early double.

    ex 1610 dark pink & yellow double

       New for 2013

     
    ex 1572orange-red & yellow double

       New for 2013  From a red & yellow double.

    ex 553
    red & yellow double

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Bright red & yellow double   

    Looks like a firework display!    

    Sold out 2013

          

    ex 1054
    Red and yellow double.

    Red and yellow full double. 

    ex 590
    Red double, yellow inside.

    Red and yellow full double. 

     
    ex 1614 cerise and yellow double.

    From a pink & yellow double, selfed. Love it! New for 2013  Sold out 2013

     
    ex 1865 dark red and orange double.

    Should this have gone with the peach and apricot colours?  From a darkest crimson double, with yellow inside. New for 2013

     
    ex 1683 cerise double, yellow inside

      The yellow ages to white. This is a very special hybrid of 'Elegant Ruby' x a pink & yellow double. I'm hoping to get golden leaves in some of the next generation, do also let me know what your results from these, and others of my seed are. It's very helpful for my records.

            New for 2013

     
    ex 1682 maroon & warm yellow double

      

    From 'Elegance' x chrysantha

    .New for 2013 and bound to be popular...

           

     
    ex 1016 maroon-purple double, yellowy inside

    Unusual shades, beautifully combined.

    ex 1778 large blue and creamy double.

    I'm chasing after an elusive colour combination: blue and yellow doubles.

    This is how close I get, ones that open a creamy yellow, but ages to white. It may be that I am unable to get my dream, results to date suggest that the yellow may actually transfuse through the blue, turning it purple (I know yellow and blue made green at school, can anyone explain this?).

    This is a hybrid which will give vary varied offspring, from a large blue & white double x a red & white long-spurred.

     

     

     
    ex 821
    indigo & creamy double

    Extraordinary, floriferous amazing indigo and white (starts creamy) double. I've listed this above,  and 821, but also feature them here as they open a good cream colour before fading to white. 

     

     

    ex 1633
    Blue and white double

    Blue and white double, starts creamy. It was a HUGE plant in it’s first flowering year (2012) and wowed everyone who saw it.

    Seedling from 821 (indigo & creamy double) x a pink & yellow double, so expect varied offspring.

    MOST AMAZING      NEW for 2013

    ex 2017 blue & creamy double

    Largish flowers and longish spurs make this one very different as well as the special colouring. A hybrid of 'Elegance' x chrysantha. 

     

     

     
    ex 1299 Indigo & creamy yellow double

    This startling colour combination is a clear winner in the garden. The indigo is rather purpley.

    Definitely desirable.

    This aquilegia and the few following ones are incredible and incomparable flowers that are the culmination so far of my breeding program to combine yellow with other colours in double forms. Prepared to be amazed, and very in awe.

     

    Indigo & creamy yellow double aquilegia
    ex 1727 purple & yellow double Whoh-ho, what have we here? From a huge blue & white double x pink & yellow double which had long spurs. Will offspring be the same? No. will offspring be better? Hard to imagine, but, yes some may very well be, that's what makes growing aquilegias so exciting! New for 2013


    ex 1557 purple & warm yellow double From a red & yellow double. wasn't sure where to slot this one, inserted here because of the purple rather than the yellow! New for 2013


    ex 1647 purple & yellow double From a yellow double! Thank you, Mrs Bumble!!. New for 2013

    ex 1722 purple & yellow double From a blue & white double x pink & yellow longt-spurred.. New for 2013

    ex 1858 purple & lightish yellow full double With a choice like these, sometimes you just have to take out a loan or remortgage to buy all that you desire. Cutting back on your order is counterproductive and illogical. Think....buy loads now and not only will they flower and reward you next year and next year and next year..... but also these plants will self sow, and cross pollinate and re-combine and produce ever more delightful offspring to keep you happy all your life. Mind you, you might need another mortgage again later....to buy a bigger garden (and hope attached house is also worthy).. New for 2013
    ex 1776 deep purple & creamy yellow double  
    Starts creamy yellow and ages creamy. A seedling from 'William Guiness' double x ecalcarata. New for 2013

    ex 1649 deep purple & creamy double  
    Starts creamy and ages white. A seedling from 'William Guiness' double x pink & yellow double. New for 2013

    ex 1648 black & creamy yellow double  
    Starts creamy yellow and ages creamy. A seedling from 'William Guiness' double x pink & yellow double. The dark colour is just slightly more red than 'William Guiness'. New for 2013

    ex 1686 burgundy-black &  yellow double  
    From a red & yellow double. '. New for 2013 Sold out 2013

    ex 1444  burgundy-black &  yellow double  
    Almost black with yellow. Awesome. New for 2013

    ex 855 burgundy & yellow double

    One of my absolutely favourite colour combinations, the yellow colouring is inside on the inner faces of the petals.       New for 2013

       

    ex 1998 nearly black, yellowy inside
     double
     In 2012, its first year of flowering, early flowers were singles. Expect some really good offspring from this hybrid of 'Elegance' x chrysantha. New for 2013

    ex 1358 black & creamy double Like many of these sensational colour blends, the depth of the yellow colour as the bud opens is the most dramatic, with a gradual fading to a creamy shade.

    ex1307 Black & creamy double Isn't that phenomenal?  Aquilegia black & creamy double
     

     Now let's have some mixes of these special doubles with yellow,

    ....only from Touchwood.       

    Sorry, understandably, these do NOT qualify for the discount offered on other Touchwood mixes of buy 8 get 1 free.
    Touchwood 'Shooting Stars' Mix

    Yellow doubles from Touchwood Mix

    Yellow doubles mix.    

     Contains seed from some of the above, as well as from ones not producing enough seed to offer separately.         

    Touchwood 'Dragon's Breath' Mix From the land of dragons, comes seed from the remarkable collection of red & yellow doubles at Touchwood. TAquilegia Dragon's Breath Mix only by Touchwoodo get an idea of the range of flowers included in this mix, see the ones pictured above as red & yellow doubles.
     

    Having NOTHING to do with aquilegias, here's a link to WALKING the DRAGON, an article I first wrote for a family newsletter about a special walk here in Wales.

    'Dragon's Breath' Red & yellow double aquilegias, only by Touchwood.
    Touchwood 'Volcano!'
    Mix

     

    'Volcano!' Mix from Touchwood.
    Fiery doubles with yellow in, including yellow doubles & apricotty ones.
    Seed from some of the entries above, as well as from ones not producing enough seed to offer separately.         

    The photo well shows what my new aquilegia hybrid national plant collection is all about. Spectacular, aren't they?

    'Volcano!' Mix

    Touchwood 'Sunrise Surprises' Mix

    Pink & yellow doubles mixed


    Seed from all sorts of pink and yellow doubles including the blushed yellow ones. NEW FOR 2013

    Touchwood
     Mix

    blue/indigo & (usually creamy) yellow doubles mixed

     


    Will you help me choose a name for this mix? Do you prefer ''Blue Moon' or 'Mystic Moonlight? Or do you have a suggestion or two to offer?

    The blues and indigos, currently, are ones that open creamy yellow and ages lighter. NEW FOR 2013
    Purple & yellow doubles mix


    purple & yellow doubles mixed

     


    Will you help me choose a name for this mix? Do you prefer 'Crown Jewels', 'Emperor's Glory', 'Magic & Mystery' 'Merlin's Delight', 'Touchwood Treasures' or 'Wizard's Delight'? Or do you have a suggestion or two to offer that captures the rich colour mix?

    These and the next mix look rather similar. And, yes, it IS difficult to separate some purples from 'blacks', but generally to the eye (rather than camera) in daylight, these are more purple, and 'Night Lights' are darker. NEW FOR 2013

    Touchwood 'Night Lights' Mix

    'black' & yellow doubles mixed


    Burgundy / black & yellow doubles.

    Seed from those closest to black that I can get with yellow accompanying it. Sometimes the yellow fades to creamy with maturity of the individual flower. NEW FOR 2013
    Touchwood 'Black & Bruises!' mix

    'black'/blue
    /purple & yellow doubles mixed

     

    What beautiful colours bruises go after some days, not just 'black & blue' but rich purples, burgundies and yellows. I think that the name of this mix (of the 3 above mixes) captures the striking colour effects of old bruises, without having to undergo the original pain!
     NEW FOR 2013
    "Dear Carrie,   Please could I thank you for the seeds that you sent me last year. The germination rate was exceptional, much better than some of the larger commercial seed merchants.  I have been most impressed with the Stellata mix. Although a simple flower , the range of colours has been tremendous. Out of all the aquilegias these seem to arouse the visitors curiosity more than any other, although all the others that you sent me are just as beautiful. What I am finding most interesting is the fact that I am finding two types of flower on many plants i.e Doubles with pom poms, doubles with stellata . Every day is an adventure in the garden, just when you think you have seen them all, you find another one even more striking hidden away. Once again many thanks for the enjoyment you have given me with your seeds." Yours Very Sincerely,  Jim Forshaw, Lancashire   May 2008 "Such an appealing flower. I remember the first time I noticed a columbine when I started gardening. I was enchanted with this mystery plant. I didn’t want to know it’s name because I was afraid it would lose it’s allure. It has lost the mystery but I love it even more." Valerie Gillman   Michigan USA
    "They are normally thought of being short-lived I can assure you of this: there´s one old, propably a Vulgaris cultivar growing in my garden in the same place, and it´s the same root, not off-sets, for about 45 years! Planted by my late mother, I have a picture of me with  mother beside the Aquilegia when I was about 4-5 years old and it´s still  there, same place flowering each year." Reijo Sodergren, Finland     "How will you know if you've arrived in Heaven? You will suddenly be walking through endless fields of Aquilegias! :-)  Aidan Tagg, Worcs

    10 of the best for £10  Leave the choice to me and get 10 packets of aquilegia seeds for £10 INCLUDING UK POST & PACKING  (overseas: usual shipping minus £1)

    Your selection will include at least one packet of: mix, a stellata form and several different doubles. 10 packets of YOUR OWN CHOICE would normally be £16 including postage.

    Also available for non-aquilegias.

    10  packets from the Aquilegiachatlist £10 Get 10 packets of aquilegia seeds for £10 INCLUDING UK POST & PACKING   (overseas: usual shipping minus £1)

    Your selection will be from the seeds left over from the Aquilegiachatlist seed exchange. Fresh seed from all over the world! Get something that is a bit different. 

    Last year's seeds

    Let me choose from all my left over last year's seeds, and go for: LUCKY FIVE £2.50 A lucky dip of 5 packs of last year’s seeds TERRIFIC TWENTY £8 or FANTASTIC FORTY £12  Strictly my choice, but I won’t include anything that you order at the same time, & you can choose  categories you want/don’t want from: annuals, biennials, perennials, trees and shrubs, alpines, bulbs, vegetables, climbers, herbs,  Aquilegias, Geraniums YES, you can have JUST AQUILEGIAS if you ask.  There's postage costs, and you can order this years seeds at the same time.

    TOUCHWOOD AQUILEGIAS:      Requesting your help

    As you may be aware there is great confusion in the names of Aquilegia cultivars, and as a collection holder I certainly don’t wish to add to the problem!  One major reason is that Aquilegias from seed may not come ‘true’; due both to promiscuous bees but also due to recessive genes (so a plant ‘looks’ right (eg double blue & white) but has hidden genes (eg for singles, pink, white and ‘not bicoloured’!).  Therefore, PLEASE do not name the plant until it has flowered and looks ‘true’ to its description.

    MIXES Resulting plants should not be labeled, for example, ‘Touchwood Eventide’ or even ‘Eventide’ as they will be a total mix, of some recognisable named cultivars together with un-named forms.

    LABELS  

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Good quality white labels …….30 for £1     ................70 for £2

    ‘Invisible’ green labels……….20 for £1       .................50 for £2

            ‘Highly visible’ yellow ....……. 20 for £1       ..................50 for £2      

      or mix yellow and green…….20 for £1       ..................50 for £2

      or mix 5 colours…………......….20 for £1       ..................50 for £2

    Label postage: they are relatively heavy, so, for UK, 50p per 50 (or part thereof)

    But labels sent free with plants-by-post orders.

     

     Stabilo Write-4-all permanent marker ........  £1.50 plus 50p postage (free postage with seed or plant order)

     

    DVD/VIDEO  A Guide to Aquilegias: sowing growing and breeding’

     

                                RRP £14.99 + p&p , please state if you want Video or DVD.(not suitable for +R (only) format)

     

     

                                                  A Guide to Aquilegias

                                            Sowing, growing & breeding

    Unique DVD / video-guide

    to Granny’s Bonnets

    £14.99 + £2.00 UK p&p

    Offers: ……..& free packet of Aquilegia seeds: you can choose!

    I loved your DVD makes me think like I almost KNOW you!!! It was very good and informative and your yard is beautiful.  Lorna, California

     

    Seed sent free postage with deliveries of plants or DVD otherwise:                                                                                        

    Prices for 2012

       £2 a packet.       6 or more: £1.50/packet    15 or more:£1.25/packet      

     UK Postage & Packing is £1.    Europe shipping  £3.  Other worldwide shipping £3.50 (all for padded envelope)

     READY RECKONER:   1packet2, 2=£4 3=£6, 4=£8, 5=£9, 6=£9, 7=£10.50,, 8=£12, 9=£13.50, 10=£15, 11=£16.50,12=£18, 13=£18.75, 14=£18.75, 15=£18.75  16=£20, 17=£21.25, 18=£22.50, 19=£23.75, 20= £25, 21=£26.25, 22=£27.50, 23 = £28.75, 24=£30, 25= £31.25, 26= £32.50, 27= £33.75, 28= £35, 29= £36.35, 30= £37.50, 31= £38.75, 32= £40,  .et cetera! Yes….if you buy 10 packets, you may as well buy 15: 

     POSTAGE Don't forget to add any postage costs. I always get proof of posting so that you can claim in the event of non-delivery. If you want signed-for delivery, it will cost whatever the rate is. I may insist that large orders have extra insurance for our peace of mind.        Pay by: cheque, bank card or Paypal 

    TO ORDER email me a list of seeds that you'd like, I'll check availability and confirm total costs with you.

    PLEASE order in the order that the seeds appear in these lists, if possible, as it halves the time in preparing your order, and means I can find the seeds!  Thanks. To make it easy for you, you can just put the acquisition number if you want, eg 608, although the failsafe way (in case you or I get it wrong) would be to put 608 pink feather duster.

     Trouble emailing? Some systems aren't compatible with this link. If so, send in your email system by putting carrie.thomas in front of @ntlworld.com to get my email address, else ring 01792-522443.  Payment can be by cheque, payable to 'Touchwood Plants'.  You may also choose to pay by card, which can ONLY be done through email invoicing and the Paypal secure site. Email me which seeds you want, I'll check availability, let you know total cost, and send an electronic invoice.  And, yes, of course you may also use Paypal if you have an account.

    OVERSEAS I am pleased to post ANYWHERE in the world. However, please will you check (online search for your customs) that what you order is ALLOWED by your customs, otherwise the seeds may be seized & destroyed. I cannot check each and every nation's rules myself, so I must leave it as your responsibility, as you will be the one who loses out if anything doesn't get through. It is easy to check that you comply rather than shed tears at any losses. For my part, I am willing to do any extra work necessary for your customs' requirements, and not charge you anything extra. eg, Norway ONLY allows 50 packets of seeds in at a time.  Info about US is really good at http://www.nargs.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=140:small-lots-of-seed&catid=75:seedex&Itemid=123

     GUARANTEE

    I fully expect you to enjoy a good germination from my seeds.  If that is not the case, please let me know, for either information and advice, replacement seed or a credit note.  But when you do get good results…please tell your friends and let them benefit from good seed of cottage garden, rare and unusual plants at a brilliant price!!

     Touchwood seeds: fully automated seed packeting system

     

            

     

    Stop Press November 2011:

    training sessions of the next generation of machines commence

       

    Seeds arrived quickly and in good condition. Thank you"  "The aquilegia seeds I bought from you at Gardeners' World Live last year are now coming up in seed trays in my green house, and as I am relatively new to gardening it's very exciting!   "Everything is looking amazing, plants out and growing madly, seeds up and on the go--just fabulous thank you"  "Congratulations on an outstanding catalogue - your seeds have superb germination. I  find only Plant World comes near to you! This year my seeds germinated so well that I may end up digging up part of my lawn!" Ian Miller, Galashiels  "Venditrice precisa e veloce. Ottima transazione!!!"  "Immer wieder gerne. Super gelaufen!"  "Alles super gelaufen. Danke" "Bin sehr zufrieden! Danke für die Zugabe"  "the seeds you sent me earlier have all germinated. I shall have some to give away. Thanks, I shall recommend you to all my friends." Jan Etchells

    Most of Touchwood's seed is grown, harvested & packeted here in Wales

     

     

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