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Herbaceous Perennial

Aquilegia desertorum
  • RHS Plants for pollinators

A bushy perennial to around 30cm high, with lobed and divided, blue-green basal leaves. Slender stems bear nodding flowers high above the foliage, with scarlet spurs and sepals, sometimes with yellow tips, and orange and yellow inner petals. Will flower all summer if regularly deadheaded

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Size
Ultimate height
0.1–0.5 metres
Time to ultimate height
2–5 years
Ultimate spread
0.1–0.5 metres
Growing conditions
Chalk
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Red Orange Yellow Blue Green
Summer Red Orange Yellow Blue Green
Autumn
Winter
Position
  • Full sun
  • Partial shade
Aspect

East–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness
H5
Botanical details
Family
Ranunculaceae
Native to the UK
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Clump forming
Genus

Aquilegia are clump-forming herbaceous perennials with long-stalked, ternately divided basal leaves and erect, leafy stems bearing bell-shaped flowers with spreading, coloured sepals and petals with spurs, on branched stems

Name status

Correct

Plant range
USA

How to grow

Cultivation

Thrives in fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade. See aquilegia cultivation for more detailed advice

Propagation

Propagate by seed; will self seed in place

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Patio and container plants
  • Flower borders and beds
  • Underplanting of roses and shrubs
Pruning

Deadhead to encourage flowering. Cut foliage back to the ground as it fades

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids, aquilegia gall midge, aquilegia sawfly and caterpillars

Diseases

May be susceptible to powdery mildews and aquilegia downy mildew

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