Aquilegia

Availability: May - June

Common Names: columbine or granny’s bonnet
Genus Name: Aquilegia
Family Name: Ranunculaceae
Place of Origin: Europe, North America and Asia.
How long do they last? Potted plants will flower for several weeks.
Varieties available: a large number of species, hybrids and cultivars are grown, differing in flower colour, size and growth form.

The Aquilegia is a perennial herb with compound leaves and distinctive, spurred flowers. The flowers contain five sepals, five petals and five pistils. They are especially popular as bedding and potted plants.

Did you know?

The genus name Aquilegia is derived from the Latin word for eagle (aquila), because of the shape of the flower petals, which are said to resemble an eagle’s claw. The common name “columbine” comes from the Latin for “dove”, due to the resemblance of the inverted flower to five doves clustered together.

Care tips

Remove dead flowers continually because this prevents a build-up of ethylene. Display the potted flowers in bright light but not in full sunlight and in a cool area.