About
Aquilegia bertolonii is a compact columbine from the limestone mountains of southern France and northern Italy, producing fern-like, divided, blue-green leaves and nodding, deep violet-blue flowers with short, curved spurs in late spring and early summer. A beautiful and refined columbine for a rock garden or raised bed.
About the genus
Aquilegia, the columbines, are upright, clump-forming herbaceous perennials with fern-like, divided, blue-green basal foliage and nodding flowers composed of five petals each extended into a backward-pointing spur. They flower in spring and early summer in a wide range of colours from white and yellow to pink, red, purple and blue.
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun, Partial shade
Soil typeChalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, North-facing, West-facing, East-facing
ExposureExposed, Sheltered
UK hardinessH5
Plant details
Plant typeHerbaceous Perennial
HabitClump forming
FoliageDeciduous
Height0.5-1 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesCity and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Wildlife gardens
Native toAlps, N Italy
Care notes
CultivationGrow in free-draining but moisture-retentive soil in sun or partial shade
PruningNo pruning required, but can be cut back after flowering
PropagationPropagate by seed as soon as seed is ripe in late summer, or by division in spring
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to aphids and leaf-miners
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to powdery mildews and aquilegia downy mildew