About
A tufted herbaceous perennial 10-18cm high with blue-green, deeply divided leaves, 3cm long, and lavender-blue buds opening in late spring or early summer to violet-blue, purple-blue, pale lilac, or white cup-shaped flowers, 2-4cm across, with golden nectaries and yellow anthers.
About the genus
Paraquilegia are tufted alpine perennials with fern-like, often grey or blue-green divided leaves and solitary, short-stalked cup-shaped flowers. Flowers appear in late spring to early summer and can be shades of blue, purple or white with golden nectaries and yellow anthers.
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun
Soil typeChalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAlkaline
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained, Well-drained
AspectWest-facing, South-facing, East-facing
ExposureExposed, Sheltered
UK hardinessH6
Plant details
Plant typeAlpine Rockery
HabitTufted
FoliageDeciduous
Height0.1-0.5 metres
Spread0-0.1 metre
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesCity and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Patio and container plants, Rock garden
Native toC Asia, SW China
Care notes
CultivationGrow outdoors in poor, sharply drained, alkaline soil in a scree bed or trough in full sun, and protect from winter wet; in an alpine house, grow in a mix of equal parts loam, leaf mould, and grit; they grow best in climates with cool summers and cold, dry winters, and they may be difficult to establish
PruningNo pruning required
PropagationPropagate by seed, sown fresh, as soon as ripe in autumn, in containers in an open frame
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to slugs and snails; under glass by aphids and glasshouse red spider mite
Disease resistanceGenerally disease-free