Columbines for graceful flowers and cottage garden charm
Aquilegia
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Aquilegia
Aquilegias, commonly known as columbines or granny’s bonnets, bring a wonderfully light and graceful feel to spring and early-summer borders. Their distinctive nodding flowers sit on slender stems above soft, divided foliage, with petals and spurred blooms appearing in shades of blue, purple, pink, red, yellow, white and beautifully contrasting bicolours. Aquilegias are especially at home in cottage gardens, woodland-style planting and relaxed mixed borders, where their airy habit allows them to weave naturally between other perennials without overwhelming the planting around them.
These hardy Aquilegia perennials are easy to grow in moisture-retentive, well-drained soil and perform particularly well in partial shade, although many varieties also flower happily in sunnier positions. Columbines are valuable to bees and other pollinators, and their self-seeding habit can help create a more natural, established look over time. Compact forms work well towards the front of borders, while taller columbines add gentle height and movement further back.
From classic blue and violet forms to richly coloured modern varieties, Aquilegia plants for UK gardens are a lovely choice for adding detail, movement and early-season colour. Plant them in groups for a fuller display or let them mingle through borders with ferns, hardy geraniums and other spring-flowering perennials for a softer, more natural effect.
