Learning Download: How to Grow Aquilegia

Aquilegia, or Columbine, is a beautiful perennial wildflower to add to your gardens because it will bring a pop of spring color. Columbine is an excellent choice because it returns year after year. Columbine are distinguished by their small, rounded leaves and their tall stalks with blooms appearing above the foliage.

Before Planting: Aquilegia prefers soil with a pH of 5.0 to 6.0 and grows best in partial shade. It is best grown in USDA Hardiness Zones 3-9.

Planting: Aquilegia is best directly sown into the garden. Plant the seeds throughout the spring time. Press seeds into the soil, but don’t cover the seeds. It will take two years before Aquilegia will bloom.

Watering: Water your plants frequently, keeping the soil moist, until they become established and then water regularly.

Fertilizer: To ensure that Aquilegia produces its best flowers and foliage each year, fertilize it monthly with a water-soluble fertilizer.

Days to Maturity: Aquilegia will bloom mid-spring up to four weeks.

Harvesting: You can add Aquilegia to cut-flower bouquets. After they have bloomed for the season, cut back by half so that they may bloom again. Aquilegia will reseed themselves.

Tips: While growing, it may be a good idea to add a fence around your Aquilegia plants if you have pets because it is considered to be mildly toxic to animals.