Karen, I can send you lots of blue columbine seeds. Mine are still blooming, so I haven't collected seeds yet. They should come true to color because it's the only columbine in that bed. Email me if interested.

Barbara in Virginia zone 7

Karen - I hear you on the dissapointment. I bought 5 white peonie plants 3 years ago. I *finally* have buds this year - and I can see already that the buds on 3 of the plant look different than the buds on the other 2 plants. Some buds are dark green with a reddish tinge. The other buds are light green. I will be so miffed if I have to tear out these plants and buy new.

Karen- were the seeds from a trade?

That can be a major drawback of OP seeds received in trades- you never know what your going to get. Sometimes it's a pretty surprise. But if you have your heart set on a specific plant, sometimes it's better to buy the seeds. I think you have a much better chance of getting what you want.

Karen

Karen - Nope, they weren't from a trade, they were commercial seeds. At the time I planted them I didn't have any seeds to do trades, so I bought all of mine.

Pixie Lou - Here's hoping you won't have to rip any out. but by your description it seems some are going to be of a different color. Hope you have some white ones.

Barbara - Thanks for the offer. I may take you up on it. They were supposed to be Aquilegia caerulea. Are what you have the same?

Thanks for all or your replies.

Karen

Sorry about your Columbine - those seeds probably got cross-pollinated. I have some Columbine that is starting to bloom that are seedlings from a Spring Magic plant. They are a solid muddy purple and reddish purple - yuck - they are probably getting the axe after this year.

Some of last year's WS Aquilegia caerulea 'Mixed Colors' are going to bloom a little this year, so we'll see what they look like.

This year I'm sowing some of the Origami colors - yellow, white, blue & white, and pink & white. These were fairly expensive seeds from Swallowtail and I expect them to seed true. But they probably won't bloom till next year (if started early they supposedly can bloom a little the first year).

I've been disappointed with blue shades in seeds and live plants, too.

The only true blue I have is a nice Stans clematis Rhonda gave me a couple seasons back, found just the right spot for it, blooms late.

Princess Caroline and Mariposa Skies Iris may have just a tad of lavender in them, but they are close enough.

I have two Alpine Columbine out there from purchased seeds that are supposed to be true blue, but I won't know until they bloom which could be a couple years.

The ph of the soil could be a factor, but I wouldn't bank on it. We've all had color or performance problems and guess we have to learn to take it in our stride. Even saved seeds can revert whether isolated or not, but I think that is the best bet, so I'd go for that trade offer.

Karen, sorry, I don't know the variety -- just that they are solid blue. It's a shade of blue resembling cobalt but not that dark. I get volunteers and they are all solid blue, too.

Barbara in Virginia zone 7