Aquilegia is an elegant flower that is easy to grow. It reaches around 60cms in height making it ideal for the middle of the border. It also comes in a range of colours, so you can find a variety to suit any scheme. The plant looks great in relaxed planting arrangements and cottage gardens.
Aquilegias have a light airy appearance. Their leaves are small and rounded and the tall flower stems rise high above the foliage. The flowers are distinctive and unusual, having 5 petals that flare out from the base, surrounded by 5 larger sepals. Many varieties also have long, nectar holding spurs that arch backwards out of the flowers. The flowers come in a variety of colours, mainly in light shades of blue, pink and purple, though there are also stronger red and yellow varieties.
They bloom in mid-spring and can be a useful filler after spring bulbs are finished and before the late spring and early summer flowers are in full swing. They remain in flower for around six to eight weeks, depending on the weather. The flowers are popular with bees and other pollinating insects at a time of year when there is not much else in bloom.
