Botanical name
Aquilegia caerulea
Common name
Columbine, Granny’s Bonnets
Columbine description
Native to Europe and Asia, Aquilegia caerulea is an easy to grow perennial with striking spurred flowers that appear in Spring. The beautiful star-shaped flowers sit above fern-like foliage in a variety of intriguing colours.
There are many hybrid forms available featuring bi-coloured flowers, double centred flowers and long spurred specimens.
Columbine grows to about 60cm in height and width.
Plant cultivation and care
Columbine thrives in a warm, sunny or partly shaded position in soil rich in organic matter. Fertilise with a liquid fertiliser in Spring and remove spent flowers to promote prolonged flowering.
Columbine seeds freely but flowers may not be true to the parent. Strong plants can be divided in Spring. Flowers may disappoint in cooler areas.
Plant use
Cut flowers, borders, pots, cottage gardens
Pruning
Remove spent flowers. Cut foliage back to ground level in Autumn.
Pests and diseases
No particular pests & diseases.
