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Herbaceous Perennial

Aquilegia formosa var. truncata
  • RHS Plants for pollinators

truncated beautiful columbine

A perennial growing to a height of up to 80cm. The flowers consist of red-orange outer sepals and yellow inner petals have long spurs, red-orange in colour. Flowering is from May to August

Synonyms
Aquilegia truncata
Aquilegia californica
Size
Ultimate height
0.5–1 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 Orange Yellow Green
Summer Orange Yellow Red Green
Autumn
Winter
Position
  • Full sun
  • Partial shade
Aspect

North–facing or West–facing or East–facing or South–facing

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

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in fertile, moist but well-drained soil, in full sun or partial shade. An open or lightly wooded area is ideal

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown in spring, late summer or early autumn

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Low Maintenance
  • Underplanting of roses and shrubs
  • Flower borders and beds
Pruning

Cut back after flowering

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids

Diseases

Susceptible to powdery mildews and aquilegia downy mildew

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