About

This perennial forms a compact clump, reaching heights of up to 40 cm. It features a basal mound of finely divided blue-green foliage. In late spring and early summer, it produces nodding blossoms, characterized by white inner petals encircled by violet-blue spurred outer sepals.

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
Loam, Sand
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moisture
Moist but well-drained
Aspect
South-facing, North-facing, West-facing, East-facing
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness
H7

Plant details

Plant type
Herbaceous Perennial
Habit
Bushy
Foliage
Deciduous
Height
0.1-0.5 metres
Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height
2-5 years
Suggested uses
City and courtyard gardens, Patio and container plants, Cottage and informal garden, Wildlife gardens

Care notes

Cultivation
Grow in fertile, moist but well-drained soil, in full sun or partial shade
Pruning
No pruning required, but can be cut back after flowering
Propagation
Propagate by seed or by division
Pest resistance
May be susceptible to aphids, aquilegia sawfly and leaf miners
Disease resistance
May be susceptible to powdery mildews, aquilegia downy mildew, and fungal leaf spot