Unpack bare roots or rhizomes on arrival and plant them within a week. Until then, keep them somewhere cool and ensure the roots remain slightly moist, never wet.
Out of season
There’s always plenty of colour around in spring, something dark-flowered like Aquilegia 'William Guinness' creates a contrast among vibrant neighbouring plants, or adds depth to a panoply of pastel blooms surrounding it. It’s beautiful in its own right of course, contemporary and sleek in that aubergine attire, but also capable of being cottage-like. It all depends on what you plant it with, but typically columbines like this look good anywhere. Exquisitely delicate, Aquilegia 'William Guinness' will nod daintily in your borders from late April to June with five rounded dark purple, almost black, spurred petals which fade to dusky pink. This delicate aquilegia, or granny’s bonnet as it’s commonly known, is a low-maintenance must for any early summer borders and thrives in sun or shade.
Easy-to-please Aquilegia 'William Guinness' is not a fussy character and does well in most soils, including clay or light, poor sandy soils, and all soil types in between. In places with more challenging soils, it’s best to pot up your Aquilegia bare root and grow it on for a few months outdoors until it’s better established before transferring it into your garden. The slender stems of this beautiful columbine will hold their stunning blooms at approximately 70cm high above a mass of blue-green scalloped foliage. As an added bonus, these pollinator friendly, perennial Aquilegia vulgaris 'William Guinness' will also self-seed in your garden with an exciting mix of columbine offspring.
Quantity
Plant profile
Plant calendar
Remove the packaging straight away, check the compost and water thoroughly if dry. Check the plant’s hardiness before placing it outdoors. Plant into a border or permanent container within a month, choosing the position recommended for the variety. Keep the top of the root ball level with the surrounding soil, firm gently and water well.
Soak the roots in water for three to six hours immediately before planting. Keep any crown, buds or emerging shoots above the water where possible.
Pot most bare roots into 15–20cm pots filled with peat-free multipurpose compost. Large or depth-sensitive roots, including peonies, are often best planted directly into borders.
Arrange the roots naturally without bending them. Cover the roots completely, positioning the crown and buds at the depth recommended for that particular perennial.
Keep pots in a sheltered outdoor position and water whenever the compost begins to dry. Grow on until roots hold the compost together when lifted from the pot.
Plant into a suitable border or permanent container once well rooted. Add a label and water regularly throughout the first growing season while the perennial establishes.
- Botanical name
- Aquilegia vulgaris 'William Guinness'
- Flower colour
- Pink, purple, white
- Established height
- 70cm-1m
- Established spread
- 20-30cm
- Growing skill
- Easy to grow
- Habit
-
Upright
Clump-forming - Hardiness
- Fully hardy
- Leaf colour
- Green
- Mouse resistant
- No
- Plant size
- 1
- Plant spacing
- 9 plants per m2
- Pollinator friendly
- No
- Position
- Sheltered
- Rabbit resistant
- Yes
- Scented
- No
- Soil acidity
- Any
- Soil moisture
- Free draining
- Soil type
-
Loam
Sandy
Clay
Stony
Multipurpose compost
Loam-based compost - Suitable for
-
Pots
Large containers
Borders
Cottage gardens
Low maintenance gardens - Sunlight
-
Full sun
Dappled shade
Partial shade - Toxicity
- No report
- Years to establish
- 1-2 years
Perfect for pots
Great for shade
Perennial
Fully hardy
Packed peat-free
Low maintenance
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Aquilegia 'William Guiness' reviews
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