Aquilegia (Columbine)
Transform Your Outdoor Space With The Delicate Allure Of Columbine
With their distinctive, whimsical flowers, Columbines add unique charm to late spring and early summer gardens across the US. Whether you are designing a delicate cottage garden or prefer a more formal setting, Columbines’ beautiful appearance creates stunning visual interest. The non-labor-intensive plant makes it an excellent choice for beginners, and experienced gardeners will appreciate its beauty.
Discover DutchGrown’s collection of top-quality Columbine flower bare roots and transform your garden into a breathtaking masterpiece during the growing season.
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Columbine (Aquilegia)
Columbine: A Breathtakingly Beautiful Flower For Garden Landscapes
The Columbine flower, also known as “Aquilegia”, "Granny's Bonnet", or "Granny's Nightcap", is a captivating perennial cherished for the unique elegance it brings to gardens. Its genus name, Aquilegia, comes from the Latin word “Aquila,” meaning eagle; this refers to the bloom’s distinct, talon-like spurs, which are a defining characteristic of the plant.
The unusual, bell-shaped flowers, often bicolored, bloom in striking shades of purple, blue, pink, red, and white, all creating a striking contrast against the attractive, deep green foliage and long spurs. The nectar held within these unique flowers makes Columbines irresistible to (bumble)bees and butterflies, while deer generally avoid them (they are deer resistant). Columbines also serve as excellent, long-lasting cut flowers for beautiful summer bouquets.
Columbine Varieties: From Nora Barlow To Rocky Mountain Columbine
With over 70 species, including the Aquilegia “Canadensis” (Wild Columbine), this perennial offers an array of shapes and colors. Each one is unique as the gardener who grows it. With hues ranging from cherry red to rich purple, they are an eye-catching addition to any landscape.
Consider, for example, the Columbine “Nora Barlow”, possibly the most popular variety. This plant has showy, decorative blooms that are deep pink, fading into a pale green at the tips. Another variety is the “Rocky Mountain” Columbine, which has two-toned flowers with star-shaped, white petals and violet sepals. Are you looking for something more delicate yet colorful? The bonnet-shaped flowers of the herbaceous perennial Columbine “McKana Hybrids Mix” are a great addition to your outdoor space.
Growing Columbine For Maximum Bloom Time In Your Garden
Although Aquilegia is a beginner-friendly flower, proper planting and care are important for the best performance.
First, find a sunny or partially shaded spot in your garden. Make sure the soil is rich and well-drained to prevent root rot. If the soil is poor, you can apply a general fertilizer to promote growth. Next, dig holes that are 2 inches deep and spaced 3 to 4 inches apart. Place the bare roots in the holes and cover them with soil, leaving the bases of the stems above ground level.
Once the roots are in place, water thoroughly to settle the soil around the plants. Columbine plants generally don't require frequent watering, making them somewhat drought-tolerant. However, water them again after cutting back the post-flowering to encourage fresh new leaves. Regular deadheading spent flowers after they bloom will help keep the plants tidy and give your garden a clean look. Columbine can be propagated by division or by sowing seeds.
With proper care, you can enjoy beautiful Columbine flowers in the late spring and early summer. Do you need more help? Follow our growing guide “How to Grow Columbine” for more information.
Discover DutchGrown’s Columbine Flower Bare Roots For Sale
At DutchGrown, we offer Columbine bare roots that reflect our decades of expertise in sourcing the highest quality. Whether you choose rich purple or bi-colored varieties, you can count on stunning blooms that will grace your garden with beauty from late spring into midsummer. Discover our collection of Columbines for sale and take your outdoor space to the next level with our premium bare roots. We ship throughout the US.
Frequently Asked Questions About Columbine
Do Columbines Like Sun Or Shade?
Columbines flourish best in full sun or partial shade. In warmer regions, providing afternoon shade is beneficial to prevent wilting. While they are adaptable, keep in mind that they won't thrive in gardens with full, deep shade, which often results in poor flowering.
Where Is The Best Place To Plant Columbine Flowers?
The best place to plant Columbine flowers is in an area that receives full sun to partial shade, and has rich, medium-moisture, well-drained soil. They thrive in USDA zones 3 to 9. Aquilegia is a great addition to cottage gardens, rock gardens and many other types of landscapes.
Does Columbine Bloom All Summer Long?
Depending on the variety, Columbine flowers bloom from late spring to mid-summer. As temperatures rise, the blooms fade, and the plant dies back. To maintain a tidy garden, deadhead the faded flowers to encourage a clean, neat appearance. Although they don't bloom all summer, they return in the spring with a fresh display.
Do Columbine Flowers Spread?
Columbine flowers can spread, but primarily through Columbine seeds rather than their compact root system. They typically require little attention from the gardener and will naturally reseed themselves in your garden, often appearing in unexpected spots.
