Granny's Bonnet

Aquilegia vulgaris var. stellata Black Barlow

• Position: full sun or partial shade
• Soil: fertile, moist, well-drained soil
• Rate of growth: average to fast-growing
• Flowering period: May to June
• Hardiness: fully hardy
  
  

  A popular cultivar among garden designers, thislovely grannys bonnet has beautiful, fully double, spur-less purple-black flowers in late spring above fern-like green leaves.  It looks gorgeous with other black flowers, and is equally at home in cottage-garden scheme or among grasses. It thrives best in soil that retains moisture over the summer. It is easy to grow and quite short-lived, but self-seeds freely, though rarely to nuisance level.
  

• Garden care: Lift and divide large clumps in early spring and apply a generous 5-7cm (2-3in) mulch of well-rotted manure or garden compost around the plant. Divided specimens may take some time to establish since they dont like having their roots disturbed. Deadhead to prolong flowering. Contact with the sap may cause skin irritation.