Columbine
Aquilegia vulgaris and hybrids
Columbines are dainty perennials with fan-shaped leaves and nodding, spurred flowers in many colours in late spring. They self-seed freely and suit cottage gardens and woodland edges.
Photo: Ivar Leidus · CC BY-SA 3.0 ee, via Wikimedia Commons
Essential Care Requirements
Light
Partial sun, Full sun
Watering
Moderate
Water in dry spells.
Soil
Well-drained, moderately fertile soil; pH 6.0–7.5.
Temperature and humidity
-35–30 °C · Moderate humidity
Feeding
Little feeding needed.
Pruning and propagation
Propagate by seed, division
Cut back after flowering to limit self-seeding and refresh leaves.
The seeds and roots are toxic if eaten.
Top Cultivation Tips
Short-lived; let it self-seed to keep it going.
Hybrids cross freely, giving new colours.
Leaf miners leave pale trails; remove affected leaves.
Attracts bees and hummingbirds.
Common problems
Aphids
Small, soft-bodied insects that cluster on new shoots and buds, sucking sap and leaving sticky honeydew behind.
How to treat it →PestLeaf miners
Larvae of small flies and moths that tunnel inside leaves, leaving pale, winding trails.
How to treat it →DiseasePowdery mildew
A fungal disease that coats leaves, buds and young shoots with a white, flour-like dust, weakening the plant and spoiling flowers and fruit.
How to treat it →
