Awarded 'Best Garden Centre in the UK' in 2018, 2021 & 2025 by the Garden Centre Association
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Chapel Cottage Plants  |  SKU: 30243766  |  Barcode: 5032215000730

Aquilegia Vulgaris William Guiness Plant - 1Ltr Pot

£499
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Aquilegia ‘William Guinness’ – Columbine (1L Pot)

Aquilegia ‘William Guinness’ is a charming hardy perennial columbine known for its striking purple-black bonnet petals contrasted with bright white centres. Perfect for cottage gardens, woodland borders, and shaded planting, this elegant plant produces delicate blooms that add colour and interest in early summer.

Key Features

  • Distinctive purple-black bonnet petals with white corolla centres

  • Beautiful early summer flowering, filling the seasonal gap between spring bulbs and summer perennials

  • Perfect for cottage gardens, woodland edges, and mixed borders

  • Bee-friendly nectar-rich blooms that attract pollinators

  • Attractive fern-like foliage adding texture to planting schemes

  • Excellent cut flower variety for indoor arrangements

Product Description

Aquilegia ‘William Guinness’ is a classic cottage garden perennial admired for its striking two-tone flowers. The dramatic purple-black bonnet-like petals sit above crisp white centres, creating a beautiful contrast that stands out in borders and woodland planting.

In early summer, the delicate blooms appear on slender, wiry stems, rising gracefully above a mound of soft green, fern-like foliage. This elegant habit adds lightness and movement to planting schemes, making it ideal for naturalistic garden designs.

This hardy perennial columbine thrives in full sun or partial shade, making it versatile for many garden settings. It looks particularly effective when planted en masse in borders or along woodland edges, where its nectar-rich flowers attract bees and other pollinators. The long stems also make it an excellent cut flower for indoor displays.

Specifications

  • Botanical Name: Aquilegia ‘William Guinness’

  • Common Name: Columbine

  • Plant Type: Hardy perennial

  • Pot Size: 1L pot

  • Mature Height: Up to 75cm

  • Mature Spread: Up to 30cm

  • Flower Colour: Purple-black with white centres

  • Flowering Period: Early summer

  • Foliage: Fern-like green foliage

  • Position: Full sun or partial shade

  • Soil Type: Moist but well-drained soil

  • Hardiness: Fully hardy in UK conditions

  • Wildlife Value: Bee-friendly nectar-rich flowers

Care Tips

  • Plant in moist but well-drained soil for best growth

  • Position in full sun or partial shade depending on garden conditions

  • Deadhead spent blooms to prolong flowering and maintain a tidy appearance

  • Allow some flowers to set seed if you want plants to self-seed naturally in the garden

  • Water during dry spells, particularly while plants establish

  • Cut back faded foliage after flowering to encourage fresh growth

Add Aquilegia ‘William Guinness’ to your garden for beautiful bi-colour blooms, pollinator-friendly flowers, and classic cottage garden elegance—a perfect choice for brightening borders and woodland planting areas.

About Us

We are a family run, independent Garden Centre, Farm Shop and Restaurant combined. We are proud to offer the very best gardening, home and outdoor living products alongside delicious, fresh, locally produced food and drink.

Awarded 'Best Garden Centre in the UK in 2018 & 2021 you can rest assured that we offer excellent products, plants and customer service.

Learn more about us and our story on the 'About Us' page.

Delivery

Collect your order in-store, have it delivered to your door, or choose a convenient InPost Locker!

We aim to dispatch orders as quickly as possible using trusted couriers.

Your Questions Answered...

What are the delivery options and prices?

We offer Standard (3-5 working days) and Express (1-2 working days) delivery for a small additional charge.

- Postable items (e.g., seed packets, gift cards) - £2.95 via Royal Mail.
- Smaller, lighter items - £4.95 – £6.95.
- Larger, heavier, and fragile items - £9.95 – £19.95.
- Pallet deliveries (e.g., furniture) - from £69.95 (see kerbside pallet delivery details below).

The exact delivery charge is calculated at checkout based on your selected items.

New! Deliver to InPost Locker

Instead of home delivery, choose to collect your parcel from an InPost Locker near you.

- Delivery rates: £3.95 or £4.95 depending on item size.
- How it works: Choose InPost after completing your order. You'll receive a notification when your parcel is ready to collect.
- Collection options: Scan the QR code or open the locker remotely via the InPost app. If collecting from a shop, show your QR code to the staff.
- Collection time: You have 3 days to pick up your parcel. InPost will send a reminder 24 hours before expiry.
- Tracking: Track your parcel via the InPost app or the tracking link in your confirmation email.

Can someone else pick up my parcel?

Yes! Share your QR code or collection code (sent via email) along with your mobile number, and they can collect it for you.

Do I need ID to collect from an InPost Locker?

No, just scan the QR code in the app or your email. For InPost Shop collections, show the QR code to the staff.

Any more questions?

Visit InPost’s [help page](#) for more details or check their blog for tips and updates.

How do I track my delivery?

Once your order is dispatched, you'll receive an email with tracking details.

Who delivers my order?

Depending on size and weight, orders are delivered by Royal Mail, Evri, or Parcelforce. Furniture and large items arrive via kerbside pallet delivery.

What is kerbside pallet delivery?

Large items like furniture are delivered on a pallet using a heavy goods vehicle. The pallet is placed at the nearest safe kerbside location. The driver cannot move it across uneven ground or remove the items from the pallet.

We can arrange a delivery date that suits you. If access for large vehicles is difficult, please let us know in advance.

What should I do if my order arrives damaged?

If your order is damaged in transit, email us a photo and your order number within 24 hours so we can resolve the issue.

Do you deliver to Northern Ireland?

Yes, though some larger or heavier items may incur a surcharge. Unfortunately, we cannot ship plants to Northern Ireland at this time.

Do any UK areas have a delivery surcharge?

Additional delivery charges may apply for:
- Channel Islands
- Northern Ireland
- Scottish Highlands & Islands
- Isle of Man & Isle of Wight
- Scilly Isles

What is the warranty on my purchase?

All products come with a manufacturer’s warranty (typically 12 months unless stated otherwise). Faulty items within the warranty period may be repaired or replaced subject to the manufacturer’s terms.

Still have questions?

Contact us via our enquiry form, call 01497 847055, or email shoponline@oldrailwaylinegc.co.uk.

Returns

How do I return an item?

If a purchase is no longer required you are able to return the goods within 28 days of delivery for a full refund in accordance with our refunds policy set out in Clause 10 of our Terms & Conditions. We will refund any money received from you using the same method originally used by you to pay for your purchase. Please make sure that you include the sales order or invoice with your return.

When returning items to us, please ensure that any and all original packaging, instructions, tags etc are included as supplied to you. We recommend using a recorded/insured service to return your order. The Old Railway Garden Centre cannot be held responsible for returned items lost or damaged in transit to us.