When to Plant Columbine Seeds
Spring is the time to shine for columbine seeds—wait until the frost has packed its bags and left town!
Where to Plant Columbine Seeds
Columbines are the versatile social butterflies of the garden world! They thrive in just about any climate and can party in full sun or chill in light shade. Bonus points: they’re deer-resistant, and their petals are like a VIP nectar bar for birds and butterflies!
How to Plant Columbine Seeds
While it's not a must, your columbine seeds might appreciate a little pampering with a 4-week cold moist stratification treatment before planting—kind of like a spa day for seeds!
Once they’ve had their chill time, bring them out into the sun or set them up under some grow lights to germinate over the next 21 to 28 days. If you’re sowing outdoors, do it 3 to 4 weeks before the last frost, just sprinkle those seeds on lightly raked soil—no covering needed! They’ll sprout in about 21 days. If you prefer to start indoors, plant them 6 weeks before the average last spring frost. These lovely columbines are perennials that can handle zones 3 to 8 or even 9, depending on their variety.
How to Care for Columbine
As the flowers start to fade, give them a little snip (that’s called deadheading, but we prefer to think of it as a floral haircut) to encourage fresh blooms. And when the gardening season is winding down, don’t forget to cut them down to the ground to make way for next year’s fabulous show!