For Release On Or After 11/04/11

Louisiana gardeners seldom grow columbines (Aquilegia species and hybrids) in their flower gardens. This is likely due to unfamiliarity with columbines – there is no tradition of using columbines here in the Deep South – and lack of availability in local nurseries.

That’s about to change. A relatively new hybrid columbine, called the Swan series, has performed so well in LSU AgCenter trials it has been named a Louisiana Super Plants selection for fall 2011.

Columbines are among the most graceful of garden flowers. The foliage is lacy and bluish-green and reminds me of maidenhair fern fronds. The slightly nodding flowers are complexly formed and often include two contrasting colors. A notable feature of the flowers is the long spurs that extend behind the petals. These claw-like spurs reminded people of the eagle claws, and that’s how this plant got the name Latin name Aquilegia – which is derived from the Latin for eagle (aquila). Interestingly, the common name – columbine – is derived from the Latin name of another bird, the pigeon or dove (columba).

Swan series columbine

The word “series” has a different meaning from the more commonly used terms variety or cultivar. All of the plants that belong to a particular variety look exactly the same or very similar – they all have the same shape, size and color of leaves and flowers. And they grow to be the same size. A series, on the other hand, is made up of closely related but different varieties of a plant that have been bred to be very similar except for a particular characteristic, such as flower color.

In a series, plant breeders create several individual groups of a particular plant that share many common traits, such as genetic background, size of plant, growth habit, cultural needs and time of bloom. But the groups differ from one another in one or two significant characteristics – typically flower color. Within the series each group is a separate variety and gets its own variety name.

This is the case with the Swan series columbines. The varieties in the Swan series are all similar in how they grow except for flower color. Within the Swan series the varieties are named based on the flower color and include Swan Blue and White, Swan White, Swan Yellow, Swan Pink and Yellow, Swan Burgundy and White, Swan Violet and White, Swan Rose and White and Swan Red and White. The outstanding range of beautiful colors is one reason the Swan series was chosen to be a Louisiana Super Plants selection. The flowers are also larger than other columbines.

In milder climates with cooler summers, columbines may be short-lived perennials that tend to bloom in summer. Here in Louisiana, however, we grow virtually all columbines as cool-season annuals that bloom in spring and are removed when they finish blooming.

Growing Swan columbines

Transplants of Swan columbines at your local nurseries should be purchased and planted in fall for the most spectacular floral display in spring. Planting can be done all winter and as late as February. Plants in 4-inch pots are a great size to plant in fall because they are economical and the plants have all winter to grow and develop. But larger sizes will often be available and are especially good when planting later in the season.

Typically, the plants you plant in fall or winter will not be in bloom. Columbines grow in the garden during winter and bloom in spring. Don’t let this deter you. During winter they produce mounds of attractive foliage that looks great with other cool-season bedding plants like pansies and dianthus.

In spring, generally from March through April or early May, the plants send up stems with clusters of large, graceful, colorful flowers. By May, the plants will be finished and can be removed from the garden (compost them) and replaced with summer bedding plants.

Swan columbines grow well in full sun to part shade – one of the few cool-season bedding plants that bloom well in part shade (as does another Louisiana Super Plant, Camelot series foxglove). Enrich the bed where they are planted with generous amounts of compost or other organic materials and a light sprinkling of general purpose-fertilizer. Space the plants 12 inches apart.

The purpose of the Louisiana Super Plants program is to identify superior plants for Louisiana landscapes, make sure wholesale growers are growing and retail nurseries are carrying the selections and get the word out to the gardening public about these outstanding plants.

In addition to Swan series columbine, two other selections for fall 2011 are Redbor kale and Belinda’s Dream rose.

Redbor kale is a multiuse annual for the cool-season flower or vegetable gardens with striking, dark red-purple, finely curled foliage. It is perfectly edible, but it is so attractive in appearance is it also popular in flowerbeds.

Belinda’s Dream is a landscape rose with an attractive, shrubby growth habit, excellent disease resistance and fragrant flowers that are larger than most landscape roses. Belinda’s Dream is one of the best roses for Louisiana landscapes. Fall is a great time for rose planting.

Redbor kale and Belinda’s Dream were featured in earlier columns. To see photos and read about these beautiful and reliable plants, check out the Louisiana Super Plants website at www.lsuagcenter/superplants. You will also find a list of nurseries in your area that are carrying Louisiana Super Plants.