Overview
Aquilegia grata is a clump-forming herbaceous perennial in the genus Aquilegia, part of the Ranunculaceae family, with deciduous foliage. Aquilegia grata grows best in full sun and partial shade, and tolerates loam and sand soils and any pH. Its UK hardiness is rated H6, H7. Suggested uses include cottage gardens, informal spaces, wildlife gardens and cut flowers.
About
Aquilegia grata, known as the mauve-coloured columbine, is a herbaceous perennial in the Ranunculaceae family. It forms clumps of deciduous foliage with long-stemmed, three-parted basal leaves and upright leafy stems. The plant produces bell-shaped flowers with wide-spreading sepals and spurred petals on branched stalks, blooming in spring and summer. It thrives in fertile, moist but well-drained loam or sandy soils, preferring full sun or partial shade in sheltered, south-, east-, or west-facing aspects. Suitable for cottage and wildlife gardens, it can be propagated by seed or division and is hardy in UK zones H6 and H7.
About the genus
Aquilegia, commonly known as columbines, is a genus of perennial flowering plants in the family Ranunculaceae (buttercups). The genus includes between 70 and 400 taxa with natural ranges across the Northern Hemisphere. Natural and introduced populations of Aquilegia exist on all continents but Antarctica.
Wikipedia contributors, "Aquilegia", CC BY-SA 4.0 — Aquilegia
Growing conditions
Best soil and position for Aquilegia
- Sunlight
- Full sun, Partial shade
- Soil type
- Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained
- Aspect
- South-facing, East-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H6, H7
Plant details
Aquilegia grata size, habit and characteristics
- Plant type
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Habit
- Clump-forming
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Suggested uses
- Cottage gardens, Informal spaces, Wildlife gardens, Cut flowers
Care notes
Pruning and caring for Aquilegia grata
- Propagation
- Seed, Division
- Pest resistance
- Aphids, Caterpillars, Leaf miners, Aquilegia gall midge, Aquilegia sawfly
- Disease resistance
- Powdery mildew, Aquilegia downy mildew
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best place to plant Aquilegia grata?
Aquilegia grata prefers full sun and partial shade. It suits sheltered positions.
What soil does Aquilegia grata need?
Aquilegia grata grows best in loam and sand soil. It is happy in soil of any pH. Aim for soil that stays moist but well-drained.
Is Aquilegia grata hardy in the UK?
Aquilegia grata has an RHS hardiness rating of H6, meaning it is very hardy, tolerating -20 to -15°C across most of the UK.
How do I propagate Aquilegia grata?
Seed, Division.
More in the Aquilegia genus
- Aquilegia 'Blue Barlow'Columbine
- Aquilegia 'Kristall'Columbine
- Aquilegia flabellata 'Ministar'Fan Columbine
- Aquilegia nigrescensColumbines
