About
Aquilegia saximontana is a compact, deciduous alpine plant characterized by its lobed, green-blue foliage. During spring and early summer, it produces nodding flowers in violet-blue, featuring white central petals and distinctive hooked spurs. When in bloom, this species typically grows to a height of around 15 cm.
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
- Sand, Loam, Chalk
- Soil pH
- Neutral, Alkaline, Acid
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
- Aspect
- West-facing, South-facing, North-facing, East-facing
- Exposure
- Exposed, Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H5
Plant details
- Plant type
- Alpine Rockery, Herbaceous Perennial
- Habit
- Tufted, 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
- Rock garden, Patio and container plants, Cottage and informal garden, City and courtyard gardens, Wildlife gardens, Gravel garden
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Best in an alpine house or scree bed where there are cool conditions in summer. Plant into a gritty compost mix. See our growing guide for alpines, for more information
- Pruning
- No pruning required
- Propagation
- Propagate by seed, sown fresh as soon as ripe, or in spring
- Pest resistance
- Susceptible to aphids, leaf miners, sawflies and caterpillars
- Disease resistance
- Susceptible to Powdery mildews