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Aquilegia alpina (Alpine columbine)

Other names: Aquilegia montana, Mountain columbine, Alpine monk's head lily, Breath of God

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Species
A. alpina is an upright, clump-forming, deciduous perennial with finely-divided, blue-green leaves and leafy racemes of nodding, spurred, violet-blue to purple flowers in late spring and 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
0.6 m 0.3 m 2-5 years
1 ft 0 ft 2-5 years

Where to grow

Soil type
  • Clay
  • Loamy
  • Sandy
Soil drainage
  • Moist but well-drained
Soil pH
  • Acid
  • 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, preferably neutral to acid soil, ideally in partial shade. Tolerates full sun. This species is short-lived but will self-seed freely. Avoid waterlogged conditions. Do not allow to dry out.

Suggested uses

Gravel, Rock, Flower Arranging, Beds and borders, Cottage/Informal, Low Maintenance, Woodland

UK hardiness

H5

USDA zones

Zone 4, Zone 5, Zone 6, Zone 7

Sunset zone

A1, A2, A3, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 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

Alps

Drought tolerant

No

Flood tolerant

No

Toxicity

Ingestion can cause stomach irritation. Contact with sap may cause skin irritation.

Plant care

Pruning

Deadhead regularly to prolong flowering. Cut back stems after flowering. Cut down leaves in autumn or earlier if affected by fungal diseases.

Propagation methods

Seed, Division

Propagation

Sow seed in a cold frame as soon as ripe or in spring. May take up to 2 years to germinate. Tends to self-seed readily. Often hybridizes with other Aquilegia species and cultivars. Divide and replant roots in spring. Resents disturbance so may take some time to recover.

Pests

Aphids

Leaf-mining sawflies

Diseases

Powdery mildew

Cut back hard if becoming untidy through summer (optional)

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

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

Deadhead to encourage more flowers (optional)

Sow seeds in a cold frame in autumn

Sow seeds in a cold frame in spring

Other plants

Plants in this Genus (147)

Aquilegia

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Aquilegia (any hardy, garden variety)
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Aquilegia vulgaris 'Miss M. I. Huish'
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Aquilegia vulgaris 'Miss M. I. Huish' Columbine 'Miss M. I. Huish'
Aquilegia 'Clementine Rose' (Clementine Series)
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Aquilegia 'Clementine Rose' (Clementine Series) Columbine 'Clementine Rose'
Aquilegia coerulea
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Aquilegia coerulea Rocky Mountain columbine
Aquilegia flabellata
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Aquilegia flabellata Fan-leaved columbine
Aquilegia formosa
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Aquilegia formosa Western columbine
Aquilegia Mrs Scott-Elliot hybrids
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Aquilegia Mrs Scott-Elliot hybrids Columbine Mrs Scott-Elliot hybrids
Aquilegia flabellata 'Cameo Blue and White' (Cameo Series)
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Aquilegia flabellata 'Cameo Blue and White' (Cameo Series) Fan-leaved columbine 'Cameo Blue and White'
Aquilegia flabellata var. pumila 'Atlantis'
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Aquilegia flabellata var. pumila 'Atlantis' Dwarf fan-shaped columbine 'Atlantis'
Aquilegia buergeriana 'Calimero'
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Aquilegia buergeriana 'Calimero' Dwarf columbine 'Calimero'
Aquilegia 'Red Hobbit'
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Aquilegia 'Red Hobbit' Columbine ‘Red Hobbit’
Aquilegia vulgaris 'Winky Wooh' (Winky Series)
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Aquilegia vulgaris 'Winky Wooh' (Winky Series) Columbine 'Winky Wooh'
Aquilegia vulgaris var. stellata 'Blue Fountain'
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Aquilegia vulgaris var. stellata 'Blue Fountain' Columbine 'Blue Fountain'
Aquilegia vulgaris var. stellata 'Touchwood Dreamtime'
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Aquilegia vulgaris var. stellata 'Touchwood Dreamtime' Columbine 'Touchwood Dreamtime'
Aquilegia vulgaris var. stellata 'Sweet Dreams'
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Aquilegia vulgaris var. stellata 'Sweet Dreams' Columbine 'Sweet Dreams'
Aquilegia 'Flamboyant'
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Aquilegia 'Flamboyant' Columbine 'Flamboyant'
Aquilegia 'Elegance'
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Aquilegia 'Elegance' Columbine 'Elegance'
Aquilegia 'Hensol Harebell'
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Aquilegia 'Hensol Harebell' Columbine 'Hensol Harebell'
Aquilegia 'Winky Rose-Rose' (Winky Series)
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Aquilegia 'Winky Rose-Rose' (Winky Series) Columbine 'Winky Rose-Rose'
Aquilegia vulgaris 'Clementine Salmon Rose' (Clementine Series)
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Aquilegia vulgaris 'Clementine Salmon Rose' (Clementine Series) Columbine 'Clementine Salmon Rose'
Aquilegia vulgaris var. stellata 'White Barlow' (Barlow Series)
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Aquilegia vulgaris var. stellata 'White Barlow' (Barlow Series) Columbine 'White Barlow'
Aquilegia vulgaris
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Aquilegia vulgaris Granny's bonnet
Aquilegia Crown of Jewels Mix
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Aquilegia Crown of Jewels Mix Columbine Crown of Jewels Mix
Aquilegia vulgaris (Vervaeneana Group) 'Woodside Gold'
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Aquilegia vulgaris (Vervaeneana Group) 'Woodside Gold' Columbine 'Woodside Gold'
Aquilegia vulgaris var. stellata 'Greenapples'
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Aquilegia vulgaris var. stellata 'Greenapples' Columbine 'Greenapples'
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Companion plants (0)

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