Aquilegia Barlow Mixed
Aquilegia 'Barlow Mixed' Seeds
Intricate, spurless pom-poms in a nostalgic mix of jewel tones. A short-lived but prolific self-seeding perennial that brings Victorian charm to shaded borders.
If you want the romance and nostalgic charm of a classic English cottage garden, you need 'Granny's Bonnets'—and the Barlow Series represents the absolute pinnacle of this beloved perennial! Unlike traditional aquilegias with their delicate spurred flowers, the Barlow Series was specifically bred for one remarkable feature: fully double, spurless, pom-pom-like blooms that resemble miniature dahlias. This mixed-colour collection brings you the entire spectacular Barlow palette in a single packet: deep blues and violets, soft pinks and raspberry tones, rich carmine, and pure white—plus wonderful bi-colours with contrasting tips and edges. Each flower is a frilly masterpiece of layered petals that nod gracefully on wiry stems above lacy, fern-like foliage.
What makes the Barlow Series genuinely special is its heritage: it was originally bred for cut flower production, which means these varieties have strong, upright stems (70-90cm tall!), exceptional vase life, and flowers that are substantially larger and more dramatic than wild aquilegias. The fully double blooms create instant "wow-factor" in both garden borders and floral arrangements—they're the sort of flowers that make visitors stop and ask "what IS that?!" Beyond their ornamental beauty, 'Barlow Mixed' is brilliantly practical: it's a hardy perennial (H7) that returns year after year, thrives in partial shade where many flowers struggle, attracts clouds of early bees and butterflies, and self-seeds politely to create gentle colonies without becoming invasive. Plant them under trees, along shady borders, in woodland gardens, or anywhere you want late spring colour with that unmistakable cottage garden magic.
Read More
🌿 Understanding the Plant
Aquilegia vulgaris var. stellata 'Barlow Mixed' is a robust Hardy Herbaceous Perennial (H7). It represents one of the highest hardiness ratings in the British Isles, capable of withstanding temperatures below -20°C. While standard Aquilegias possess iconic nectar spurs, the stellata (Barlow) varieties are spurless, featuring numerous pointed petals arranged in a rosette form that resembles a miniature dahlia or pom-pom.
The "Barlow" Breakthrough: Developed specifically for the cut-flower market, this series was the first to stabilize the spurless double-flowered mutation. Its unique multi-layered architecture is a result of homeotic mutation where the spurs are replaced by additional petals. This creates a more substantial floral head that is significantly more durable in arrangements than single-flowered columbines.
Pollinator Support: Despite the complex double-flower structure, 'Barlow Mixed' is a valuable RHS Plant for Pollinators asset. Its open-facing rosettes provide accessible forage for emerging bumblebee queens and solitary bees during the critical late-spring window, supporting biodiversity in shaded or woodland garden areas.
🌱 Growing Guide
Aquilegia seeds require specific light triggers and often a cold period to break dormancy and ensure uniform germination.
How to Sow:
Sow indoors from January to May or in September. Surface sow the seeds onto moist, free-draining seed compost and do not cover them; Aquilegia seeds are photoblastic and require light to germinate. Press them gently into the surface to ensure contact. Maintain a temperature of 15-20°C. Germination is slow and erratic, typically occurring within 14-35 days.
The "Cold Trick":
For the highest germination rates, place seeds in a sealed bag with damp vermiculite and refrigerate for 3-4 weeks before sowing. This cold stratification mimics winter and "unlocks" stubborn seeds. Alternatively, sow in pots in January and leave them in an unheated greenhouse or cold frame to stratify naturally.
Where to Plant:
They thrive in partial shade or dappled sun and prefer humus-rich, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil. They are specialists of woodland edges and shaded borders. Space plants 30-40cm apart. While individual plants are short-lived (3-4 years), they will self-seed generously to create a permanent, wandering colony in your garden.
Ongoing Care:
After flowering finishes in June, the foliage can sometimes look tatty. You may cut the entire plant back to ground level; fresh, lush basal rosettes will re-emerge within weeks. For the best cut flowers, harvest stems when the first two blooms on the branched spike are fully open.
📋 Plant Specifications
| Botanical Name | Aquilegia vulgaris 'Barlow Mixed' |
| Common Name | Double Columbine / Barlow Series |
| Plant Type | Hardy Herbaceous Perennial |
| Hardiness | H7 (Ultra Hardy - to -20°C) |
| Light Requirements | Full Sun / Partial Shade ⛅ |
| Height | 70cm - 90cm |
| Spread | 40cm - 50cm |
| Spacing | Plant 35cm apart |
| Flowering Period | May to June |
| Perfect For | ✂️ Professional Double Cut Flowers 🌳 Shaded Borders & Woodland Edges 🐝 Emerging Pollinator Support 🌿 Spontaneous Self-Seeding Colonies |
| Seeds per Packet | Approximately 100 seeds |
🤝 Beautiful Garden Combinations
The frilly pom-pom heads of 'Barlow Mixed' pair spectacularly with available woodland partners from our range:
- 🦊 Foxglove 'Bishy Barnabee Mix': The Woodland Towers. THE classic cottage garden pairing. Both species thrive in partial shade and flower simultaneously in May-June. The tall flower spires of the Foxglove provide a vertical backdrop for the nodding Aquilegia pompoms, creating a professional-looking layered spring display.
- 🌙 Honesty (Lunaria) Mixed: The Early-Late Show. Create perfect seasonal succession. Honesty provides the opening act in April-May, then transitions into its famous "silver dollar" seed pods just as the Barlow Aquilegias reach peak bloom, providing a sophisticated backdrop for the double frilly blooms.
📅 Sowing & Flowering Calendar
Surface sow in spring or autumn for a spectacular harvest of double pom-pom heads that will return through self-seeding year after year.
✨ Seedling Longevity Tip
While individual Aquilegia clumps are short-lived (3-4 years), 'Barlow Mixed' is a prolific self-seeder. Allow some flower heads to set seed naturally in late summer; this ensures a fresh generation of plants will emerge, making your 'Barlow' colony permanent.
🏆 Robust Garden Stamina
Known for its stamina and ability to thrive in dappled shade, Aquilegia vulgaris 'Barlow Mixed' is an essential choice for those wanting to create a romantic, low-maintenance garden that provides non-stop pom-pom blooms for both the border and the vase.
📖 Want more detailed growing advice?
View our Complete Growing Guide for Perennials →
Original: $2.81
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$0.84Description
Aquilegia 'Barlow Mixed' Seeds
Intricate, spurless pom-poms in a nostalgic mix of jewel tones. A short-lived but prolific self-seeding perennial that brings Victorian charm to shaded borders.
If you want the romance and nostalgic charm of a classic English cottage garden, you need 'Granny's Bonnets'—and the Barlow Series represents the absolute pinnacle of this beloved perennial! Unlike traditional aquilegias with their delicate spurred flowers, the Barlow Series was specifically bred for one remarkable feature: fully double, spurless, pom-pom-like blooms that resemble miniature dahlias. This mixed-colour collection brings you the entire spectacular Barlow palette in a single packet: deep blues and violets, soft pinks and raspberry tones, rich carmine, and pure white—plus wonderful bi-colours with contrasting tips and edges. Each flower is a frilly masterpiece of layered petals that nod gracefully on wiry stems above lacy, fern-like foliage.
What makes the Barlow Series genuinely special is its heritage: it was originally bred for cut flower production, which means these varieties have strong, upright stems (70-90cm tall!), exceptional vase life, and flowers that are substantially larger and more dramatic than wild aquilegias. The fully double blooms create instant "wow-factor" in both garden borders and floral arrangements—they're the sort of flowers that make visitors stop and ask "what IS that?!" Beyond their ornamental beauty, 'Barlow Mixed' is brilliantly practical: it's a hardy perennial (H7) that returns year after year, thrives in partial shade where many flowers struggle, attracts clouds of early bees and butterflies, and self-seeds politely to create gentle colonies without becoming invasive. Plant them under trees, along shady borders, in woodland gardens, or anywhere you want late spring colour with that unmistakable cottage garden magic.
Read More
🌿 Understanding the Plant
Aquilegia vulgaris var. stellata 'Barlow Mixed' is a robust Hardy Herbaceous Perennial (H7). It represents one of the highest hardiness ratings in the British Isles, capable of withstanding temperatures below -20°C. While standard Aquilegias possess iconic nectar spurs, the stellata (Barlow) varieties are spurless, featuring numerous pointed petals arranged in a rosette form that resembles a miniature dahlia or pom-pom.
The "Barlow" Breakthrough: Developed specifically for the cut-flower market, this series was the first to stabilize the spurless double-flowered mutation. Its unique multi-layered architecture is a result of homeotic mutation where the spurs are replaced by additional petals. This creates a more substantial floral head that is significantly more durable in arrangements than single-flowered columbines.
Pollinator Support: Despite the complex double-flower structure, 'Barlow Mixed' is a valuable RHS Plant for Pollinators asset. Its open-facing rosettes provide accessible forage for emerging bumblebee queens and solitary bees during the critical late-spring window, supporting biodiversity in shaded or woodland garden areas.
🌱 Growing Guide
Aquilegia seeds require specific light triggers and often a cold period to break dormancy and ensure uniform germination.
How to Sow:
Sow indoors from January to May or in September. Surface sow the seeds onto moist, free-draining seed compost and do not cover them; Aquilegia seeds are photoblastic and require light to germinate. Press them gently into the surface to ensure contact. Maintain a temperature of 15-20°C. Germination is slow and erratic, typically occurring within 14-35 days.
The "Cold Trick":
For the highest germination rates, place seeds in a sealed bag with damp vermiculite and refrigerate for 3-4 weeks before sowing. This cold stratification mimics winter and "unlocks" stubborn seeds. Alternatively, sow in pots in January and leave them in an unheated greenhouse or cold frame to stratify naturally.
Where to Plant:
They thrive in partial shade or dappled sun and prefer humus-rich, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil. They are specialists of woodland edges and shaded borders. Space plants 30-40cm apart. While individual plants are short-lived (3-4 years), they will self-seed generously to create a permanent, wandering colony in your garden.
Ongoing Care:
After flowering finishes in June, the foliage can sometimes look tatty. You may cut the entire plant back to ground level; fresh, lush basal rosettes will re-emerge within weeks. For the best cut flowers, harvest stems when the first two blooms on the branched spike are fully open.
📋 Plant Specifications
| Botanical Name | Aquilegia vulgaris 'Barlow Mixed' |
| Common Name | Double Columbine / Barlow Series |
| Plant Type | Hardy Herbaceous Perennial |
| Hardiness | H7 (Ultra Hardy - to -20°C) |
| Light Requirements | Full Sun / Partial Shade ⛅ |
| Height | 70cm - 90cm |
| Spread | 40cm - 50cm |
| Spacing | Plant 35cm apart |
| Flowering Period | May to June |
| Perfect For | ✂️ Professional Double Cut Flowers 🌳 Shaded Borders & Woodland Edges 🐝 Emerging Pollinator Support 🌿 Spontaneous Self-Seeding Colonies |
| Seeds per Packet | Approximately 100 seeds |
🤝 Beautiful Garden Combinations
The frilly pom-pom heads of 'Barlow Mixed' pair spectacularly with available woodland partners from our range:
- 🦊 Foxglove 'Bishy Barnabee Mix': The Woodland Towers. THE classic cottage garden pairing. Both species thrive in partial shade and flower simultaneously in May-June. The tall flower spires of the Foxglove provide a vertical backdrop for the nodding Aquilegia pompoms, creating a professional-looking layered spring display.
- 🌙 Honesty (Lunaria) Mixed: The Early-Late Show. Create perfect seasonal succession. Honesty provides the opening act in April-May, then transitions into its famous "silver dollar" seed pods just as the Barlow Aquilegias reach peak bloom, providing a sophisticated backdrop for the double frilly blooms.
📅 Sowing & Flowering Calendar
Surface sow in spring or autumn for a spectacular harvest of double pom-pom heads that will return through self-seeding year after year.
✨ Seedling Longevity Tip
While individual Aquilegia clumps are short-lived (3-4 years), 'Barlow Mixed' is a prolific self-seeder. Allow some flower heads to set seed naturally in late summer; this ensures a fresh generation of plants will emerge, making your 'Barlow' colony permanent.
🏆 Robust Garden Stamina
Known for its stamina and ability to thrive in dappled shade, Aquilegia vulgaris 'Barlow Mixed' is an essential choice for those wanting to create a romantic, low-maintenance garden that provides non-stop pom-pom blooms for both the border and the vase.
📖 Want more detailed growing advice?
View our Complete Growing Guide for Perennials →
