Common Name: columbine
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Ranunculaceae
Zone: 3 to 8
Height: 1.50 to 2.00 feet
Spread: 1.00 to 1.50 feet
Bloom Time: April to May
Bloom Description: Blue/white, purple/white, red/white
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low
Suggested Use: Naturalize
Flower: Showy
Tolerate: Rabbit, Deer
Culture
Easily grown in average, evenly moist, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Tolerates a wide range of soils except heavy, poorly-drained ones. Prefers organically rich, moist soils with light to moderate shade. Remove flowering stems after bloom to encourage additional bloom. Keep soils uniformly moist after bloom to prolong attractive foliage appearance. When foliage depreciates, plants may be cut to the ground. It should be noted that seed collected from garden plants or self-seeded plants may not come true because different varieties of columbine may cross-pollinate in the garden producing seed that is at variance with either or both parents.
Winky series plants may be grown from seed and may self-seed in the garden under optimum growing conditions.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Aquilegia is a genus of about 70 species of herbaceous perennials from the Northern Hemisphere.
Genus name comes from the Latin word for eagle in reference to the flower’s five spurs which purportedly resemble an eagle’s talon.
Common name of granny's bonnet is in reference to the spreading bonnet-like appearance of the flower petals.
'Winky Blue and White', one of the Winky Series cultivars, feature upward-facing, short-spurred, bicolored flowers. These are bushy, clump-forming perennial columbines that typically grow 18-24” tall and bloom in spring. Cultivars come in blue, purple and red with contrasting white on the upper parts of the sepals. Biternate, almost fern-like, medium green foliage is somewhat suggestive of meadow rue (Thalictrum).
Problems
Susceptible to leaf miner. Aphids are a lesser problem. Potential disease problems include leaf spot, powdery mildew and rust. Foliage usually declines by mid-summer at which point it should be cut to the ground.
Uses
Borders, rock gardens, cottage gardens, open shade gardens, woodland gardens or naturalized areas. Also a good selection for a hummingbird garden. Continue to water plants after bloom to enjoy the ground cover effect of the foliage.