Aquilegia vulgaris 'William Guiness'

Columbine or Granny's Bonnet is a traditional English cottage garden plant. It is best known for its flowers, which are long lasting and lovely, but we grow it for its foliage. The glaucous scalloped leaves are extremely decorative and look fresh from early spring through late fall.

Very easy to grow. Prefers humus rich soil in light shade, but it is not overly particular. Deer and rabbit resistant.

'William Guiness' has deep purple flowers (nearly black) with contrasting white corollas. Flowers are held well above the foliage on tall wiry stems.

Note: These are promiscuous plants that will mix and mingle if not grown in relative isolation.

WARNING: mildly poisonous to livestock. Contact with sap may cause dermatitis.

Zones: 3 to 8
Family: Ranunculaceae
Type: Perennial
Height: 24 to 36 in.
Spread: 12 to 24 in
Exposure: Full sun, part-shade
Soil Conditions: well-drained, average
Bloom Time: May to July
Bloom Color: Almost Black Purple With White Corolla
Native Range: Western, Central and Southern Europe

Image Credits:

• Ikmo-ned, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons