Scientific name: Aquilegia spp. & cvs
Family: RANUNCULACEAE
Common names: “Columbine” “American bluebells” “cock’s foot” “culverwort” “God’s breath” “lion’s herb” “naked woman’s foot” “pigeon foot”
Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
Conditions:
Zone: 4-8
Light: Semi-shade, some spp. prefer full sun
Exposure: Sheltered
Soil: Fertile humus rich soil, sandy loam best
Moisture: Moist well drained, average
Aesthetic:
Plant Size: 2″-4’H & W, clump forming
Leaf and Stem shape: Long-stalked, ternately divided basal leaves
Flower: Erect, leafy stems bearing bell-shaped flowers with spreading, coloured sepals and petals with spurs, on branched stems, blue – purple – mauve – pink – white
Maintenance: Low, can cut back after flowering, can cut off seed heads to prevent seedlings
Landscape use: Flower beds, shrub underplanting, cottage garden
Propagate: By seed and division
Pests & Disease: Powdery mildew maybe and leaf miner
*Deer resistant ♥Attracts hummingbirds
Comments: Seed heads attract song sparrows (Juncos)
Cultivars: ~AGM winners: A. ‘Dove’ , A. ‘Bluebird’ , A. ‘Bunting’ , (Songbird Series) , A. f. ‘Georgia’ , A. ‘Alaska’ , A. ‘Florida’ , A. ‘Louisiana’ (State Series) , A. ‘Origami Yellow’ , A. ‘Origami Red and White’ (Origami Series) , A. canadensis , A. vulgaris ‘Nivea’ , A. chrysantha ‘Yellow Queen’ , A. bertolonii , A. coerulea , A. flabellata var. pumila
A. formosa – native to BC
