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Aquilegia vulgaris (Granny's bonnet)

Other names: Common columbine, American bluebells, American snapdragon, Capon's tail, Cock's foot, Culverwort, Dove plant, God's breath, Lady's shoes, Lion's herb, Naked woman's foot, Pigeon flower, Pigeon foot, Sow wort

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Species
A. vulgaris is an upright herbaceous perennial with green, divided foliage and nodding flowers ranging in colour from violet and blue to pink and white, with short, hooked spurs which bloom on top of tall stems from late spring to early summer.
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Season of interest

Flower

Spring Summer Autumn Winter
Flower

Foliage

Spring Summer Autumn Winter
Foliage
Height and spread

Height and spread

Size Max height Max spread To maturity
0.9 m 0.45 m 2-5 years
2 ft 1 ft 2-5 years

Where to grow

Soil type
  • Chalky
  • Clay
  • Loamy
  • Sandy
Soil drainage
  • Moist but well-drained
  • Well-drained
Soil pH
  • Acid
  • Alkaline
  • Neutral
Sunlight
  • Partial Shade
  • Full Sun
Aspect
  • East
  • West
  • South
  • North
Exposure
  • Exposed
  • Sheltered

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Additional plant details

Cultivation

Grow in fertile, moist but well-drained, soil. Likes full sun or partial shade.

Suggested uses

Rock, Flower Arranging, Beds and borders, Cottage/Informal

UK hardiness

H7

USDA zones

Zone 3, Zone 4, Zone 5, Zone 6, Zone 7, Zone 8, Zone 9, Zone 10

Sunset zone

A2, A3, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24

WUCOLS

North-Central Coastal = Unknown
Central Valley = Unknown
South Coastal = Unknown
South Inland = Unknown
High and Intermediate Desert = Unknown
Low Desert = Unknown

Foliage

Deciduous

Habit

Upright, Clump-forming

Native to

Garden origin

Drought tolerant

No

Flood tolerant

No

Toxicity

Eating can cause stomach irritation.

Plant care

Pruning

Cut back stems after flowering. Cut down leaves in autumn, or earlier if affected by fungal diseases.

Propagation methods

Seed, Division

Propagation

Sowing from seed is the preferred propagation method. Aquilegia hybridises freely in the garden so plants grown from garden-collected seed may not come true to type. Divide and replant roots in spring. Resents disturbance so may take some time to recover

Pests

Aphids

Caterpillars

Leaf-mining sawflies

Diseases

Powdery mildew

Cut back after flowering in early autumn (optional)

Cut back hard if becoming untidy through summer (optional)

Deadhead regularly (optional)

Sow spores or seeds as soon as ripe on moist compost

Plant in fertile, moisture retentive soil

Plant in moist but well-drained soil (autumn or spring)

Plant in full sun or partial shade (autumn or spring)

Other plants

Plants in this Genus (0)

Aquilegia

Companion plants (0)

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