Double Flowered
Black Barlow Columbine is a stunning heirloom cultivar of Aquilegia vulgaris that produces striking, fully double flowers in deep blackish-purple hues. Growing 24 to 36 inches tall with a modest 12 to 18-inch spread, this frost-hardy perennial thrives in zones 3 and beyond, blooming reliably from spring through summer (March through August). Its intricate pompom-like flowers and deer-resistant nature make it a treasured addition to cottage gardens, borders, and pollinator-friendly spaces where it returns year after year.
Full Sun
Moderate
3-3
36in H x 18in W
Perennial
Moderate
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The most captivating feature of Black Barlow is its fully double, intricately layered flowers that resemble tiny dark velvet pompoms in shades of blackish-purple. Unlike single-flowered columbines, this heirloom variety creates a lush, ruffled effect that catches light beautifully in spring and early summer gardens. Deer leave it alone, and pollinators still find their way to the nectar, making it both ornamental and ecologically valuable. Its compact, upright growth habit fits neatly into borders without sprawling, and the frost-hardy nature means it reliably returns year after year in cold climates.
Black Barlow Columbine is grown as an ornamental flowering perennial, valued for its distinctive double-petaled blooms that add texture and visual interest to garden designs. It's used in cottage gardens, mixed borders, and cut flower arrangements where the unusual pompom-like flowers provide unique color and form.
Start seeds indoors 8 to 10 weeks before your last frost date. First, stratify seeds for 3 weeks at 35 to 40°F by placing them in dampened vermiculite or clean sand inside a plastic bag in the refrigerator. Remove chilled seeds from the refrigerator and sow them, keeping the area at 60 to 70°F under a humidity dome. Seedlings can take anywhere from 2 to 8 weeks to emerge, so patience is essential. Transplant seedlings as they appear.
Transplant hardened-off seedlings outdoors after the last frost date when soil has warmed and the danger of hard freezes has passed.
Direct sow in fall or early autumn for spring germination, planting at a depth of barely covering the seed or surface sowing. Seeds need exposure to cold temperatures over winter to break dormancy.
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