About

Aquilegia canadensis is a slender perennial that can grow up to 60 cm tall. It features finely divided, dark green leaves at its base and upright stems that support nodding flowers measuring 3-5 cm in length. The blooms display pale yellow petals complemented by upright scarlet sepals that have straight spurs.

About the genus

Aquilegia consists of herbaceous perennials that grow in clumps, characterized by their long-stemmed, three-parted basal leaves. The upright, leafy stems support bell-shaped blooms featuring wide-spreading sepals and petals that possess spurs, all arranged on branched stalks.

Growing conditions

Sunlight
Full sun, Partial shade
Soil type
Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moisture
Moist but well-drained
Aspect
South-facing, North-facing, West-facing, East-facing
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness
H5

Plant details

Plant type
Herbaceous Perennial
Habit
Bushy
Foliage
Deciduous
Height
0.5-1 metres
Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height
2-5 years
Suggested uses
City and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Wildlife gardens
Native to
E N America

Care notes

Cultivation
Grow in fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade
Pruning
Cut back foliage affected by fungal diseases
Propagation
Propagate by seed sown in pots in a cold frame as soon as seed is ripe or in spring. It can also be propagated by division in spring but the plant will be slow to recover
Pest resistance
May be susceptible to aphids, leaf-mining flies and sawflies
Disease resistance
May be susceptible to powdery mildews and aquilegia downy mildew