Aquilegia vulgaris var. stellata Black Barlow - Columbine

Aquilegia vulgaris var. stellata 'Black Barlow' is an astonishing variety from the Barlow series; it stands out with its original trailing pompom flowers which are dark purple, almost black. From May to July, these very double flowers appear at the end of slender stems. In good garden soil that remains moist in summer, 'Black Barlow' will be easy to grow and will add a lot of character to your beds. Its dark charm will naturally blend into a romantic garden, but this columbine will also be very well-suited to a contemporary garden thanks to its unusual colour.

Aquilegia vulgaris 'Black Barlow' belongs to the Ranunculaceae family. It is a cultivar derived from Aquilegia vulgaris, native to Europe, North Africa and temperate Asia, where it grows in meadows, and deciduous woodland clearings. The Barlow series was created in tribute to Emma Nora Barlow, granddaughter of the naturalist Charles Darwin, who was also passionate about botany.

'Black Barlow' is a very hardy herbaceous perennial; it forms an upright, leafy clump, 60 cm (24in) tall and 25 cm (10in) wide, from which long floral spikes rise. From May to June-July, charming very double flowers of about 3 cm (1in) in diameter appear at the end of these slender and branched stems. Unlike other columbines, they lack long horned spurs; the dark purple petals form a pompom around a pale yellow stamen heart. Its deciduous bluish-green foliage is quite decorative, and the serrated basal leaves give a sense of lightness.

Columbines are completely hardy perennials. They thrive best in partial shade or non-scorching sunlight, in rich and humus-rich soil that remains consistently moist. However, they are short-lived plants surviving between two and four years, rarely more than five. They compensate for this with abundant self-seeding!

Aquilegias were cultivated in medieval flower beds, and cottage gardens have perpetuated the tradition. Compact and unassuming, they are essential in mixed borders, where they bring lightness and charm. They can also be planted in many different parts of the garden, taking care to leave a space of 20 cm (8in) around each plant: in the middle of a perennial bed, in a border, at the base of bushes, along woodland edges, or on a slope. They will be magnificent when planted in groups to create a dense clump. In flower beds, with a "cottage garden" style, 'Black Barlow' columbine can be associated with all kinds of perennials, such as Foxgloves, Bleeding Hearts, or Peach-leaved Bellflowers. Play with colours by contrasting it with orange, yellow, or white flowers, or enhance its informal look by pairing it with grasses. Pick them when they are just opening for wonderful wildflower bouquets.