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Aquilegia scopulorum

Utah Columbine · Blue Columbine · Rock Columbine

Family RanunculaceaeGenus Aquilegia

Pale pink flowers with very long slender spurs and cream cups, the yellow stamens standing well clear, among pale rock
FlowerStan ShebsCC BY-SA 3.0

About the plant

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

The plant

Habit
Perennial, WildflowerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
perennialPlants of the World Online
Height
0.7-1 ft20-30 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
8-10 in20-25 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
Blue, Purple/Lavender, WhiteExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
Spring, SummerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
Nevada, UtahGBIF Backbone Taxonomy

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sun; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
Clay, Loam (Silt), SandExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good Drainage, Occasionally DryExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox

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

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

Two sources report 4 treatments between them. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 15, 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 21 days.

25% germination in 21 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Aquilegia p. 21Public domain
Show the original text
Aquilegia (Ranunculaceae). In genera! Aquilegia require GA-3 for germination, but this can sometimes be replaced by light or DS. A. scopulorum was shown to germinate 100% in 2nd w in 70 GA-3 and none in 70D. This has now been confirmed in a second sample from a different source. The latter also germ. 40-70D(2/8 in 3rd w) and 70D-40(none).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Aquilegia p. 21. 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, 1996

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

No stated waiting before sowing.

0% germination.

Nothing germinated at 70.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Aquilegia p. 21Public domain
Show the original text
Aquilegia (Ranunculaceae). In genera! Aquilegia require GA-3 for germination, but this can sometimes be replaced by light or DS. A. scopulorum was shown to germinate 100% in 2nd w in 70 GA-3 and none in 70D. This has now been confirmed in a second sample from a different source. The latter also germ. 40-70D(2/8 in 3rd w) and 70D-40(none).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Aquilegia p. 21. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 22, 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 14 days to germinate.

98% germination in 14 days.

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. scopulorum germ. 70 GA-3(98%, 2nd w), 70(none), and 40-70(30% 2nd w).
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 4

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 22, 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

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 14 days.

30% germination in 14 days.

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. scopulorum germ. 70 GA-3(98%, 2nd w), 70(none), and 40-70(30% 2nd w).
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.

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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