Aquilegia Plants
Aquilegia (or columbines) are often the first perennials to flower in the spring, bringing plenty of colour and interest to a woodland border or cottage garden. They couldn’t be easier to grow, and practically care for themselves. With star or pompom shaped blooms in pastel shades, brights or bicolours, they’re flowers that punch well above their weight.
Which aquilegia?
Aquilegia comes in a huge range of colours, with spurred or pompom forms - there are currently over 70 varieties in existence! The classic star shaped Spring Magic series in pastel shades is ideal for a cottage garden. They also make lovely cut flowers, as do the pompom shaped Barlow varieties. Choose light coloured aquilegia like Spring Magic White or Green Apples to brighten shaded areas. All of these tend to grow quite tall, so for container displays and the front of borders, go for a compact type such as Earlybird Purple & White.
Planting schemes and partners
Aquilegia are perfect for slightly shady borders, with other woodland plants including hostas, heucheras, foxgloves and ferns. They add height and colour in wildlife gardens (the bees love them) and wildflower meadows too. Use aquilegia to underplant deciduous trees, as they flower in spring and will bring a welcome splash of colour. Their freewheeling, self-seeding nature also lends itself well to the cottage garden aesthetic, making a good pairing for flowers of a similar height such as leucanthemum and achillea.
Growing tips
Hardy, evergreen aquilegia is a woodland plant, so it’ll be equally happy in sun or partial shade and isn’t too fussy about the soil type as long as it’s well drained. It will also self seed everywhere (yay, free plants!) but if you’d rather they didn’t, you can just remove the flowers once they’re finished. You’ll only need to water your aquilegia until it gets established, then it’ll pretty much take care of itself. Your aquilegia won’t need pruning or feeding either. Find out more in our aquilegia feature.
Pink and white bursting from a bed of green
- Sweet blush-pink funnel flowers in abundance
- Attractive green foliage makes great ground cover
- A fantastic border bed plant for a cottage garden aesthetic
- Flowers from May to July
A superb red from Bordeaux
- Layers of crimson red petals atop tall green stems
- Adds early colour in your garden
- Grows perfectly well in areas of partial shade
- Adds dynamic height to your border beds
Intensely dark - a must-have!
- Deepest purple, almost black pompom shaped flowers on slender stems
- Flowers from April right through to July
- Brings colour and contrast to borders
- Attractive to bees and butterflies
Add apple green to your colour palette
- Double pompom-shaped flowers which begin apple green and mature to crisp white
- Flowers from April right through to July
- Perfect in a cottage garden border
- Highly beneficial to early pollinators
Dusky pink and pale green pompoms
- Double flowers in a delightful contrast of pinks and pale greens, on tall slender stems
- Spring and summer flowering from April to July
- Essential border colour - and shade tolerant too
- Attractive to bees and butterflies
Deepest purple summer blooms from leaves of luscious green
- Deliciously deep plum purple flowers
- Makes brilliant ground cover for border beds
- Flowers from May to July
- Provides rich early summer flowering
A collection of enchanting colours
- Specially selected summer tones of Pink, Purple & Red
- Hardy perennials with bushy foliage and flowers on upright stems
- The perfect collection to bring colour to your borders
- Flowers from May to July
Some of the earliest spring flowers
- Bright white double flowers on tall slender stems
- Flowers from April right through to July
- Brings colour and contrast to borders
- Attractive to bees and butterflies
A collection of enchanting colours
- Specially selected summer tones of Blush Pink, Violet Blue and Daisy White
- Hardy perennials with bushy foliage and flowers on upright stems
- The perfect collection to bring colour to your borders
- Flowers from May to July
Enchanting blue and white blooms
- Blue and white bonnet-shaped flowers with golden yellow stamens
- Flowers from April right through to July
- A compact variety suitable for borders or pots
- RHS Plants for Pollinators
Start the year off early with these spring flowering plants
- Create colourful displays right from April into summer
- Our growers' best mix of colour, form and scent for borders or containers
- Hardy perennial favourites, easy to grow and care for
- Attract bees and butterflies
Early spring flowering essential
- Pompoms of deepest violet blue on tall slim stems
- Flowers from April right through to July
- Brings colour and contrast to borders
- Attractive to bees and butterflies
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