About
Aquilegia 'Dragonfly' is a compact perennial that typically reaches a height of around 50 cm. Its foliage consists of bluish-green leaves that are intricately divided into rounded leaflets. From late spring to mid-summer, this plant produces flowers with long spurs that face outward or upward. The blooms come in white as well as various shades of pink, purple, red, and yellow, including combinations of these colors. This variety is known for its relatively short lifespan.
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
- East-facing, South-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H5
Plant details
- Plant type
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Habit
- Clump forming
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Height
- 0.5-1 metres
- Spread
- 0.5-1 metres
- Time to full height
- 2-5 years
- Suggested uses
- Cottage and informal garden, Patio and container plants, Wildlife gardens
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grow in fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade
- Pruning
- To encourage more flowers (and prevent self-seeding) deadhead regularly. Cut back foliage after flowering to promote fresh growth in late summer
- Propagation
- Propagate by seed; home-saved seed may not come true. Established plants can also be propagated by division in spring, but they dislike root disturbance and will be slow to recover
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to aphids, caterpillars, leaf miners, aquilegia gall midge and aquilegia sawfly
- Disease resistance
- May be susceptible to powdery mildews and aquilegia downy mildew