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Plant care

Aquilegia 'Nora Barlow' (Nora Barlow columbine) care

Aquilegia vulgaris 'Nora Barlow'

Also called Nora Barlow columbine, double columbine.

RHS H7USDA 3-8Mildly toxic to petsIndoor 75-90 cm (2.5-3 ft) tall and 45 cm (1.5 ft) wide.

Watering rhythm

Medium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)

Water when the top 3 cm of soil dries, about weekly

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Light

Medium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)

Soil

Fertile, moist, well-drained loam, neutral to slightly acidic or alkaline

Humidity

40-60%

Temp

13-24°C

Pet safety

Mildly toxic to pets

Mature size

75-90 cm (2.5-3 ft) tall and 45 cm (1.5 ft) wide.

Care at a glance

Light

The Goldilocks zone. Not the south-facing windowsill (too hot, too direct), not the back of the room (too dim, growth stalls). Performs well in full sun or part shade. Light afternoon shade in hotter climates keeps foliage from scorching and lengthens flowering, whereas heavy shade thins the bloom display and weakens the stems. If you can't decide, a free phone lux-meter app aimed at the leaf at noon should read between 800 and 1,500 lux.

Watering

Watering aquilegia 'nora barlow': water when the top 3 cm of soil dries, about weekly. The number that matters isn't the day of the week — it's how dry the top 2-3 cm of the pot feels. A finger in the soil tells you more than a watering app. After every watering, tip the saucer. Keep soil evenly moist but well-drained while the plant is growing and flowering. Established clumps cope with brief dry periods, though sustained drought brings on early dormancy. Mulch to conserve moisture and cool the roots.

Soil and pot

Aquilegia 'Nora Barlow' grows best in fertile, moist, well-drained loam, neutral to slightly acidic or alkaline. Tolerant of most ordinary garden soils at pH 6.0-7.5 with good drainage, including chalky ground. It resents waterlogging, which rots the crown, but is otherwise undemanding and easier to please than the alpine columbines. A pot with a working drainage hole is non-negotiable for this species — even free-draining mix will turn soggy in a closed planter. If you love the look of a decorative pot without a hole, use it as a cachepot around an inner nursery pot you can lift out to water.

Humidity and temperature

Aquilegia 'Nora Barlow' sits happiest at around 40-60% humidity and 13-24°C (55-75°F). An outdoor border perennial that requires no humidity control. It thrives in temperate, moderately moist conditions; prolonged hot, dry weather scorches foliage and curtails the flowering season. If you keep the room above 13 year-round and avoid placing the plant near a cold draught, a hot radiator, or an air-conditioning vent, you have already handled the two biggest indoor stressors.

Fertilising

Feed aquilegia 'nora barlow' sparingly. Feed lightly. A spring compost mulch or a single balanced feed suffices. Steer clear of nitrogen-rich fertilisers, which promote lush, mildew-prone leaves and fewer of the tall, characterful double flower spikes. Skip fertiliser entirely on a stressed, recently-repotted, or actively wilting plant — fertiliser salts make damage worse, not better. Wait for a round of healthy new growth before resuming a feeding rhythm.

Common problems

Below are the issues we see most often on aquilegia 'nora barlow' in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

  • Leaf miner — Columbine leaf miners leave white winding trails in the foliage. The harm is cosmetic; cut the leaves back hard after flowering and fresh, clean growth follows.
  • Powdery mildew — White mildew can coat stressed plants in dry, crowded conditions. Shear spent foliage after bloom, water at soil level, and give plants room for air movement.
  • Aphids on buds — Aphids sometimes cluster on flower stems and buds, distorting opening blooms. Dislodge them with a jet of water or encourage natural predators before colonies build up.
  • Self-seeding spread — It seeds prolifically and seedlings vary, sometimes reverting to simpler flowers. Deadhead before pods ripen to control spread and preserve the distinctive double form.

Propagation

Propagate from seed, which comes fairly true to the double type; sow fresh in autumn or cold-stratify for spring. It self-sows readily. The deep taproot dislikes being moved, so transplant seedlings young rather than dividing established plants. Propagation is the cheapest, most satisfying way to expand a collection — and it doubles as insurance against losing a mature plant to an accident. Take a backup cutting once the parent is established and healthy.

Toxicity to pets

Aquilegia 'Nora Barlow' is mildly toxic to pets. Aquilegia (columbine) is not individually listed by the ASPCA, so its pet status is not confirmed; treat with caution and verify with a vet. The plant contains cyanogenic glycosides, concentrated in seeds and roots, and ingestion may cause vomiting and gastrointestinal upset. Because a pet-safe label cannot be confirmed against ASPCA, keep pets from eating it. If you keep cats, dogs, or curious children in the house, weigh placement carefully — a high shelf or a hanging planter is enough for casual safety. For severe ingestion incidents, call your local vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (in the US, 888-426-4435).

Pet-safety status is sourced from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, which catalogues the most-asked-about plants for cats, dogs, and horses.

Aquilegia 'Nora Barlow' care — frequently asked questions

What is the common name for Aquilegia vulgaris 'Nora Barlow'?

Aquilegia vulgaris 'Nora Barlow' is most commonly called Aquilegia 'Nora Barlow', but it is also known as Nora Barlow columbine, double columbine. The names refer to the same species, so care instructions for Aquilegia 'Nora Barlow' apply identically to anything sold as Nora Barlow columbine.

How much light does aquilegia 'nora barlow' need?

Aquilegia 'Nora Barlow' grows best in medium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window). Performs well in full sun or part shade. Light afternoon shade in hotter climates keeps foliage from scorching and lengthens flowering, whereas heavy shade thins the bloom display and weakens the stems.

How often should I water aquilegia 'nora barlow'?

Water aquilegia 'nora barlow' water when the top 3 cm of soil dries, about weekly. Keep soil evenly moist but well-drained while the plant is growing and flowering. Established clumps cope with brief dry periods, though sustained drought brings on early dormancy. Mulch to conserve moisture and cool the roots. The finger-test (or lifting the pot to feel its weight) beats a fixed weekly calendar because pot size, light, and season all change how fast the soil dries.

Is aquilegia 'nora barlow' toxic to cats and dogs?

Aquilegia 'Nora Barlow' is mildly toxic to pets. Aquilegia (columbine) is not individually listed by the ASPCA, so its pet status is not confirmed; treat with caution and verify with a vet. The plant contains cyanogenic glycosides, concentrated in seeds and roots, and ingestion may cause vomiting and gastrointestinal upset. Because a pet-safe label cannot be confirmed against ASPCA, keep pets from eating it.

What USDA hardiness zone does aquilegia 'nora barlow' grow in?

Aquilegia 'Nora Barlow' is rated for USDA zone 3-8 and RHS hardiness H7. Outside that range, grow it as a container plant that overwinters indoors before the first hard frost.

Aquilegia 'Nora Barlow' deep-dive guides

Every aspect of aquilegia 'nora barlow' care, each with its own calibrated guide:

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Aquilegia 'Nora Barlow' qualifies for 5 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

Related guides

Aquilegia 'Nora Barlow' is also commonly called Nora Barlow columbine or double columbine.