Saving Seeds Columbine Hybrids

Orchard Park, NY(Zone 5a)

Very new to seed saving. I have several columbines for which i would like to have new plants but not sure if columbine seeds will be true to the host, particularly the hybrids.
Specifically I have seeds from Lime Sorbet and I also have McKana Hybrids int he garden which I would like to try. Any advice very welcome.

Calgary, AB(Zone 3b)

If you are growing any sorts of hybrids, or more than one variety of columbines in the garden, the seeds are unlikely to be true to the parent, since columbines are very promiscuous and various forms cross very easily. Of course, if you'd only just started growing columbines, your chances are better, but the more seasons pass, the greater likelihood of crosses.
If you distribute seeds from named cultivars to seed exchanges, it's best to label them as, e.g. "ex. 'McKana Hybrids', to indicate that the seeds are no longer the named cultivar.
That said, the genetics of 'McKana Hybrids' seem to be very dominant. I bought these very long ago, and they've crossed (with A. vulgaris, A. canadensis and other various species) and self-seeded to produce a wide range of bicolours and solid colour columbines with long spurs.

Post a Reply to this Thread

Please or sign up to post.
BACK TO TOP