About
Aquilegia desertorum is a perennial plant that typically reaches a height of approximately 30 cm. It features lobed, divided leaves that are a blue-green hue, forming a bushy base. The slender stems elevate nodding flowers above the foliage, displaying scarlet spurs and sepals, occasionally tipped with yellow, along with inner petals in shades of orange and yellow. To promote continuous blooming throughout the summer, regular deadheading is recommended.
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, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained
- Aspect
- East-facing, South-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Exposed, Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H5
Plant details
- Plant type
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Habit
- Clump forming
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Height
- 0.1-0.5 metres
- Spread
- 0.1-0.5 metres
- Time to full height
- 2-5 years
- Suggested uses
- Cottage and informal garden, Patio and container plants, Wildlife gardens
- Native to
- USA
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Thrives in fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade. See aquilegia cultivation for more detailed advice
- Pruning
- Deadhead to encourage flowering. Cut foliage back to the ground as it fades
- Propagation
- Propagate by seed; will self seed in place
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to aphids, aquilegia gall midge, aquilegia sawfly and caterpillars
- Disease resistance
- May be susceptible to powdery mildews and aquilegia downy mildew