Aquilegia, Hybrid Columbine, Songbird Columbine 'Robin'

Columbines are easy, adaptable, short-lived perennials, promiscuous hybridizers and self-sowers. The Songbird series gets highest praise ...Read Morefrom connoisseurs, with large, long-spurred, upward facing flowers.

According to Robert Nold, the Songbird series was created by the late Charles L. Weddle, Jr., of Paonia, CO, by crossing A. coerulea with the McCana's Giant strain and the Dwarf Fairyland series. According to Graham Rice, he also used A. canadensis, A. skinneri, A. californica and A. chrysantha, and perhaps A. longissima.

When he died in 1986 his stocks were bought by PanAmerican Seed, refined and upgraded, and re-introduced in the late 1980s. The series has since been expanded and quietly upgraded over the years under the guidance of breeder Dr Ellen Leue.

'Robin' is light pink and white, and grows to 24' tall and 12" wide. Like the other Songbird cultivars, it's an F1 hybrid and will not come true from seed.

Columbines have deep taproots. Mature plants are very difficult to transplant or divide, and neither is generally recommended.

Columbines prefer slightly alkaline soils, and are especially short-lived where soils are very acid unless lime is added.

Deadheading is also essential for longer garden life.

The cultivar name is 'Robin'. "Songbird" is the name of the series and not part of the cultivar name.

Pale pink and white petals are double funnel shaped. Prefers moist soil. Also attraacts hummers and butterflies.

A compact cultivar with large, pink and white flowers.

Loves a well-drained but moist soil in sun or light shade. Dislikes...Read More hot summers so in warm climate regions they will probably grow better in light shade.

Won't come true from garden collected seed but cultivar seed is available from some seed merchants.