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.
'Nightingale' is mauve/pink and white, and grows to 20-28' 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 'Nightingale' (US) or 'Skylark' (UK). "Songbird" is the name of the series and not part of the cultivar name.
Columbines are easy, adaptable, short-lived perennials, promiscuous hybridizers and self-sowers. The Songbird series gets highest praise ...Read More