Does anyone have good luck with columbines? I love the long spurred varieties, but they are pretty short lived for me. I get perhaps 2-3 seasons from a plant, then the mother plant disappears and the seedling babies typically are a very blah short spurred lavender granny bonnet. I've tried McKana's Giants, a couple from the Origami line, and my favorite was Remembrance, which was a tribute to the Columbine victims. I assume these are all hybrids which explains why the seedlings are plain janes, but am wondering if perhaps there is a hardier cultivar?
My sister did give me a start of A. formosa which is our native, and I will see if that is longer lived. This will just be my second year for that one, and I presume its seedlings will come true. While it is not as dramatic as the cultivars, I wouldn't mind scattering these all around my gardens (also works well with my desire to add more natives).
Remembrance:
