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Aquilegia formosa

Sitka Columbine · Crimson Columbine · Scarlet Columbine · Western Columbine

Family RanunculaceaeGenus Aquilegia

A nodding flower with red spurs spreading backwards, yellow inner petals, and a hanging brush of yellow stamens
FlowerWalter Siegmund (talk)CC BY-SA 3.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
perennialPlants of the World Online
Habit
Perennial, Forb/herbPLANTS Database
Height
3.0 ft90 cmPLANTS Database
Flower
RedPLANTS Database
Blooms
SpringPLANTS Database
Native range
Alaska, Alberta, British Columbia, California, Idaho, Mexico Northeast and elsewhereGBIF Backbone Taxonomy

Growing conditions

Sun
Shade tolerance: LowPLANTS Database
Soil
Adapted to coarse, medium textured soilsPLANTS Database
Soil pH
6.0-7.5PLANTS Database
Moisture
Moisture use: MediumPLANTS Database
Watering
Drought tolerance: MediumPLANTS Database

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

Two sources report 5 treatments between them. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1998

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around November 24, 2026 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 42 days.

52% germination in 14–42 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Aquilegia p. 14Public domain
Show the original text
Aquilegia (Ranunculaceae). A. formosa had germ. 40-70D(52% in 2-6 w) (KR). KR now finds seeds germ. 70 GA-3(3/10 in 3rd w) and 70D(1/10 in 3rd w). If 5 ppm of zeatin cytókinin is added to the 70 GA-3 treatment the germination increases to 6/10 in 3rd w. This result is important because it is one of the few examples of a positive effect of cytokinins and because it confirms the general GA-3 requirement in Aquilegia.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Aquilegia p. 14. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1998

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 15, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Gibberellic acid soak

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 21 days to germinate.

30% germination in 21 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Aquilegia p. 14Public domain
Show the original text
Aquilegia (Ranunculaceae). A. formosa had germ. 40-70D(52% in 2-6 w) (KR). KR now finds seeds germ. 70 GA-3(3/10 in 3rd w) and 70D(1/10 in 3rd w). If 5 ppm of zeatin cytókinin is added to the 70 GA-3 treatment the germination increases to 6/10 in 3rd w. This result is important because it is one of the few examples of a positive effect of cytokinins and because it confirms the general GA-3 requirement in Aquilegia.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Aquilegia p. 14. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1998

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 15, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 21 days to germinate.

10% germination in 21 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Aquilegia p. 14Public domain
Show the original text
Aquilegia (Ranunculaceae). A. formosa had germ. 40-70D(52% in 2-6 w) (KR). KR now finds seeds germ. 70 GA-3(3/10 in 3rd w) and 70D(1/10 in 3rd w). If 5 ppm of zeatin cytókinin is added to the 70 GA-3 treatment the germination increases to 6/10 in 3rd w. This result is important because it is one of the few examples of a positive effect of cytokinins and because it confirms the general GA-3 requirement in Aquilegia.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Aquilegia p. 14. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 4

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

  1. Sow outdoors and leave it

    Up in late April.

No stated waiting before sowing.

38% germination.

This source doesn't state how long step 1 lasts.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Aquilegia p. 97Public domain
Show the original text
Aquilegia (Ranunculaceae). Three treatments gave germination, and all other treatments failed. The three were (a) treatment of fresh or DS seed with GA-3 at 70, (b) sowing of OS seed at 70, and (c) outdoor treatment. All three of the treatments were used In only a few of the species so that it is not certain that all three will work with every species. Stewart and Presley (ref. 9) were the first to report that GA-3 was valuable in stimulating the germination of A. formosa germ. 40-70(52% in 2-6 w) and none in 70-40-70. The seed was received in January and had been in effect DS 6 m at 70. A sample placed outdoors when received germ. 38% in late April and an additional 50% the following October and November. The seed was given an additional 6 m of DS at 70 and sown outdoors in January. This germ. 57% the following October and November indicating that oscillating temperatures promoted germination. -
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Aquilegia p. 97. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 5

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

No stated waiting before sowing.

0% germination.

Nothing germinated at 70.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Aquilegia p. 97Public domain
Show the original text
Aquilegia (Ranunculaceae). Three treatments gave germination, and all other treatments failed. The three were (a) treatment of fresh or DS seed with GA-3 at 70, (b) sowing of OS seed at 70, and (c) outdoor treatment. All three of the treatments were used In only a few of the species so that it is not certain that all three will work with every species. Stewart and Presley (ref. 9) were the first to report that GA-3 was valuable in stimulating the germination of A. formosa germ. 40-70(52% in 2-6 w) and none in 70-40-70. The seed was received in January and had been in effect DS 6 m at 70. A sample placed outdoors when received germ. 38% in late April and an additional 50% the following October and November. The seed was given an additional 6 m of DS at 70 and sown outdoors in January. This germ. 57% the following October and November indicating that oscillating temperatures promoted germination. -
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Aquilegia p. 97. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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