Last Updated on August 9, 2022 by Real Men Sow
Aquilegias are traditional cottage plants with beautiful, delicate bell-shaped flowers. These perennials, also known as granny’s bunny or columbine, bloom prolifically in May-June. The flowers come in a variety of colors, from white to pale yellow to purples and blues to pinks. There are also singles, doubles, and spurred varieties. Aquilegias are beautiful cut flowers, and their semi-evergreen leaves make a great backdrop for other plants.
Where To Plant Aquilegias
Aquilegias are woodland edge plants, so they need to be in partial shade in moist, fertile soil.
How To Plant Aquilegias
To improve drainage, you can add leaf mold or garden soil to the soil. Remove the roots from pot-bound plants. Water well and then set the plant in the hole.
Caring for Aquilegias
After your aquilegia plants have been established, you will not need to care for them. Cut back on summer growth in September to get the best display of foliage. This will allow for a late flush and new leaves that should last the winter.
What to do with Aquilegias seeds
If you don’t want to save the seed, cut the flowering stems. If you do not want to overcrowd your choice variety with self-sown seedlings, it is possible for the plant to become unwieldy. Like most perennials, Aquilegias can be lifted and divided every few years. This creates new plants that are stronger and increases their flowering potential.
Propagating Aquilegias
Aquilegias are self-seeding and can cross-fertilize. If you allow the plants to grow, you may find some new varieties. You can also collect the seeds by waiting until the pods dry a bit on the stem. Cover the seeds with a paper bag, then shake them to release their tiny seeds.
Problems When Growing Aquilegias
Leaf Miners and Aphids
Use soapy water to remove aphids and wash off any leaves that have been affected by miners.
Aquilegia Downy Mildew
A fungal disease that is only found in these plants, is called. If the conditions are right, it can spread quickly – cold and damp. The leaf will develop yellow spots that cause it to curl and become brown. There may also be white growth under the leaf. The affected flowers can appear distorted, and the stalks and seed pods may develop brown blotches. The only way to fix this is to remove the affected plants and burn them.
