Aquilegia viridiflora
green-flowered columbine
A short-lived perennial, to 30cm tall, with lobed, divided foliage and small, fragrant flowers with purple-flushed, pale green sepals and deep purple petals and spurs in late spring and early summer
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Size
Ultimate height
0.1–0.5 metresTime to ultimate height
2–5 yearsUltimate spread
0.1–0.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
Spring | Purple Green | Green | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Summer | Purple Green | Green | ||
Autumn | Green | |||
Winter |
Position
- Full sun
- Partial shade
Aspect
South–facing or East–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H5Botanical details
- Family
- Ranunculaceae
- Native to GB / Ireland
- 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
- Plant range
- Far East
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade. See aquilegia cultivation
Propagation
Propagate by seed sown in pots in a cold frame as soon as seed is ripe or in spring. It can also be propagated by division in spring but the plant will be slow to recover
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Cottage and informal garden
- City and courtyard gardens
- Wildlife gardens
- Underplanting of roses and shrubs
- Flower borders and beds
Pruning
Cut back foliage affected by fungal diseases
Pests
May be susceptible to aphids, caterpillars, leaf miners, aquilegia gall midge and aquilegia sawfly
Diseases
May be infected by powdery mildews and aquilegia downy mildew
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