Chocolate Soldier Columbine is a compact, early-blooming perennial that earns its intriguing name from deep burgundy flowers that appear almost black in certain light, creating an unexpected drama in the spring garden. Hardy in zones 3 and colder, this heirloom cultivar of Aquilegia viridiflora reaches just 12 inches tall and spreads to 8 inches wide, making it a tidy choice for borders, containers, or rock gardens. From March through August, deer bypass it entirely while native bees and pollinators seek out its unusual blooms, and it thrives in full sun with moderate water.
8
Full Sun
Moderate
3-3
12in H x 8in W
—
Low
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This columbine's near-black flowers are genuinely uncommon, stopping gardeners mid-step when they first spot them in bloom. At just a foot tall with a narrow footprint, it fits seamlessly into tight spaces where other perennials sprawl. The fact that it blooms across six months, starting as early as March, means you're getting far more garden value than typical spring bloomers, and deer won't touch it.
Grown as an ornamental flower for spring and early summer color in perennial borders, rock gardens, and containers. The dramatic deep burgundy blooms are prized by gardeners seeking unusual, non-traditional flower colors for cutting gardens or focal plantings.
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Start seeds indoors 8 to 10 weeks before your last frost date. First, stratify seeds for 3 weeks at 35-40°F in late winter by placing them in dampened vermiculite or clean sand, sealing in a plastic bag, and refrigerating. Remove pre-chilled seeds from the refrigerator and sow them on the soil surface or barely covered. Cover the seed tray with a humidity dome and maintain temperatures between 60-70°F. Seedlings will emerge anywhere from 2 to 8 weeks, so patience is essential. Transplant seedlings outdoors after hardening off once soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.
Transplant hardened-off seedlings to garden soil after the last spring frost, spacing plants 8 inches apart. Ensure soil has warmed slightly and outdoor temperatures are stable above 50°F.
Direct sow seeds in fall or earliest spring, pressing them onto the soil surface or barely covering them since they need light to germinate. Expect sprouting within 15 to 60 days depending on conditions.
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