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Hybrid Columbines Aquilegia x hybrida

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
a-kwi-LEE-jee-a hy-BRID-uh
Description

Hybrid Columbines are herbaceous perennials in the buttercup family with delicate fern-like leaves and very showy spurred flowers that appear mid-spring to early summer. They can grow from 1 to 3 feet tall depending on the cultivar and flowers come in multiple colors and bi-colors.

These plants prefer fertile moist but well-drained soils in partial sun to full shade. Provide irrigation during dry spells. Deadhead to prolong the bloom season and prevent self-seeding as they will not seed true. Cut foliage back if it becomes infected with leaf miners as it will grow back.

A great plant for woodland gardens, naturalized areas, or cottage gardens.

Disease, pests, and problems: Leaf miner, stem borers, aphids, powdery mildew, leaf spots

See this plant in the following landscape:
Flower Bonanza Garden
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • A. vulgaris
A. vulgaris
Tags:
#showy flowers#shade garden#rabbit resistant#bicolor#deer resistant#cutting garden#flowers late spring#flowers early summer#partial shade tolerant#HS302#flowers midspring
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • A. vulgaris
A. vulgaris
Tags:
#showy flowers#shade garden#rabbit resistant#bicolor#deer resistant#cutting garden#flowers late spring#flowers early summer#partial shade tolerant#HS302#flowers midspring
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Aquilegia
    Family:
    Ranunculaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Wildlife Value:
    Deer resistant. Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies
    Dimensions:
    Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Clumping
    Mounding
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Medium
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Available Space To Plant:
    12 inches-3 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Blue
    Gold/Yellow
    Pink
    Purple/Lavender
    Red/Burgundy
    White
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Tubular
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    1-3 inches
    Flower Description:
    Hanging or erect flowers with 5-petals, 5-sepals with long or short spurs projecting backward. They come in red, pink, blue, white, yellow, lavender or bi-colors.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Blue
    Gray/Silver
    Green
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Leaf Type:
    Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
    Leaf Margin:
    Lobed
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Description:
    3-parted fuzzy compound leaves with irregularly cut margins are blue-green to gray-green.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Naturalized Area
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Cottage Garden
    Cutting Garden
    Shade Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Hummingbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Rabbits