About
Aquilegia longissima is a perennial plant that typically reaches a height of 80 cm. It features fern-like, mid-green leaves that provide a lush backdrop for its distinctive flowers. In summer, the plant produces fragrant, two-tone yellow blooms that face outward, complemented by spurs that can extend up to 15 cm in length. This species has a relatively brief lifespan in the garden.
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
- 0.1-0.5 metres
- Time to full height
- 2-5 years
- Suggested uses
- Cottage and informal garden, Wildlife gardens
- Native to
- W Texas, N Mexico
- Fragrance
- Flower
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grow in fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade. See aquilegia cultivation
- 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