Aquilegia Fragrans

27.06.2023 - 08:43 / aberdeengardening.co.uk

Aquilegia Fragrans

Aquilegia Fragrans (Columbine) Granny’s Bonnet) A perfect early summer flowering perennial for the Scottish garden.

Columbines a genus of about seventy species from the northern hemisphere. Leaves are often glaucous blue/green, deeply divided and fernlike.

Flowers of Aquilegia are distinctive and usually bell shaped, borne singly or in short panicles on leafy stems. Those new to gardening could be forgiven for thinking this beauty was a tender plant that may be reserved for the experienced gardener. However this is most definitely not the case.

Look out for the old favourite Mckana, beautiful spurred flowers in a range of bicolours, including, blue-yellow-salmon-pink-white and lemon.

One extra special columbine, is the very beautiful (Fragrans). As the name suggests the flowers are very fragrant, leaves are more finely divided and delicate on this one, flowers are creamy white and blue tinted. If I had to choose only one Aquilegia for the garden, this would be the one.

The single plant which we have had in our garden  for six years is starting to weaken. I was informed in the past that the seeds of Fragrans is sterile, I am not so sure as a search for the plant does bring up suppliers of the seeds. I have been on the look out for this one in the Garden Centres without any luck, if you have spotted it, please get in touch.

In actual fact I have just managed to find a supplier for plants of

Aquilegia Fragrans  (and have been assured that they do come true from seed)

Height – 15cm/90cm

Position – Full sun/Partial shade in fertile moist yet well drained soil

Hardiness – Fully hardy and reliable down to minus 15 degrees

Its now late May 2012 and I did order a couple of these plants.