Aquilegia flabellata var. pumila

RHS Plant Profile

dwarf fan-shaped columbine

RHS 2003

Synonyms

Aquilegia flabellata var. pumila 'Selection'
Aquilegia akitensis misapplied
Aquilegia flabellata var. nana
Aquilegia fauriei
Aquilegia japonica

Herbaceous Perennial

Buy this from Plant Nurseries
3 Suppliers

A compact perennial to 15cm in height, with slightly glaucous, divided leaves and 1-3 nodding flowers 3cm in width, with light violet-blue sepals and spurs and creamy-white petals

Position

Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0-0.1 metre

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 0-0.1 metre
Max Height: 0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand

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

Position

Partial shade

Aspect: North–facing or West–facing or East–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): H5

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
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: Japan

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in fertile, moist soil in partial shade

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown in pots in a cold frame as soon as seed is ripe or in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Rock garden
Cottage and informal garden
Wildlife gardens
Flower borders and beds
Garden edging

Pruning

Cut back foliage affected by fungal diseases

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids, leaf-mining flies and sawflies

Diseases

May be susceptible to powdery mildews and aquilegia downy mildew