Aquilegia 'Blue Star' (Star Series)

RHS Plant Profile

columbine 'Blue Star'

Synonyms

Aquilegia vulgaris 'Blue Star'

Herbaceous Perennial

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An upright, clump-forming, herbaceous perennial with divided bluish-green leaves. Nodding white flowers with pale violet and blue spurred petals are produced on slender, upright stems in spring and early summer

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: 0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: North–facing or South–facing or East–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H7

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Ranunculaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Clump forming, Columnar upright
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: Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

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

Propagation

Propagate by seed or by division. Propagates freely by seed in situ

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Rock garden
Wildlife gardens
Cut flowers
Flower borders and beds
Underplanting of roses and shrubs

Pruning

No pruning required. May be cut back after flowering and kept well watered to encourage new leaf growth

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids, aquilegia sawfly, aquilegia sawfly and leaf miners

Diseases

May be susceptible to powdery mildews, aquilegia downy mildew and fungal leaf spot