Aquilegia glandulosa Fisch.

Horticultural & Botanical History

Johnsons’ Dictionary lists two varieties, concolor with violet flowers and discolor, bluish-white.  Introduced to Britain in 1822.  [JD].  ‘Dr. Fischer says that this plant [Aquilegia jucunda] stands intermediate as it were between the true A. glandulosa and A. alpina.  “It differs from A. glandulosa not only in the points included in the specific character, but in the sepals being ovate, tapering to the point, and deep blue; in the petals being roundish ovate (not truncate as in A. alpina, nor acute as in A. glandulosa) whitish, touching each other by their whole length; in the anthers being narrowly oval, the carpels fewer (6-10), and the seeds thicker, with 5 imperfect longitudinal keels.  Among the slighter marks by which it differs from A. alpina are the long peduncles, the spurs which are exactly those of A. glandulosa, the white petals, the yellow anthers, and more numerous carpels.  It is found on the mountains of Siberia.”  In gardens it is a fine hardy perennial, growing about a foot high, when planted in a compost composed of sandy loam and leaf-mould. It is well suited for rock-work, where it can be kept free from damp when in a state of repose, but freely supplied with moisture during the growing season, otherwise the plants dwindle away and never flower.  It is easily increased by seeds, or by dividing the old plants when in a dormant state, and flowers from June to August.’  [BR f.19/1847].

History at Camden Park

Seed ordered from Warner & Warner, Seedsmen and Florists, Cornhill, on 12th April 1846 [MP A2933-1, p.131].  On 8th April, 1846, Macarthur also placed an order with Hurst and McMullen, Seedsmen and Florists of London [MP A2933-1, p.132].  Not known if it was grown in the gardens.

Notes

Aquilegia glandulosa Miq.  = Aquilegia flabellata Siebold & Zucc.