Horticulture/Aquilegia

Columbines Yellow columbine close.jpg Aquilegia Ranunculaceae Herbaceous perennials Self seed freely Insects Aquilegia (columbine) is a genus of about 60-70 species of herbaceous perennial plants that are found in meadows, woodlands, and at higher altitudes throughout the Northern Hemisphere. They are known for their distinctive flowers, generally bell-shaped, with each petal modified into an elongated nectar spur. Several species are grown in gardens; ../Aquilegia vulgaris/ (European Columbine) is a traditional garden flower in the British Isles, and several of the species that are native to North America are popular garden plants there. Numerous hybrids have also been developed as well. Easy to propagate from seed. The traditional colors of lavender/blue columbines are the official Colorado state flower. Description Growing Conditions Full sun to part shade in fertile, well-drained soils. Species Uses Often used as "filler" plants between later blooming perennials. Maintenance Monitor carefully for sawflies. Remove any leaves with leafminer tunnels as soon as they are apparent. Propagation Seed or division Harvest Flowers are best cut in the morning, and keep well in a cool location. Seed pods can be used in dry arrangements, either dried on the plant or hung green. Pests and Diseases ../Leaf Spots/ Ascochyta aquilegiae Cersospora aquilegiae Septoria aquilegiae ../Crown Rots/ ../Pellicularia rolfsii/ ../Sclerotinia sclerotiorum/ ../Root Rots/ ../Pellicularia filamentosa/ ../Phymatotrichum omnivorum/ ../Pythium mamillatum/ ../Rusts/ Puccinia redondita var. agropyri ../Viri/ ../Cucumber Mosaic Virus/ (CMV) ../Aphids/ Melon Aphid: ../Aphis gossypii/ Aphid: ../Aphis spireaecola/ Crescentmarked Lily Aphid: ../Neomyzus circumflexus/ Aphid: ../Pergandeidia trirhoda/ ../Whiteflies/ Bandedwinged Whitefly: ../Trialeurodes abutilonea/ ../Flies/ Columbine Leafminer: ../Phytomyza aquilegivora/ ../Caterpillars/ Columbine Skipper: ../Erynnis lucilius/ Columbine Borer: ../Papaipema purpurifascia/ w:Cabbage Moth w:Dot Moth w:Engrailed w:Mouse Moth ../Sawflies/ Columbine Sawfly: ../Pristophora aquilegae/ ../Mites/ Twospotted Spider Mite: ../Tetranychus urticae/ References Flora Europaea: Aquilegia USDA PLant Profile: Aquilegia Flora of China: Aquilegia (see also links to related floras therein) Christopher Brickell and Judith D. Zuk The American Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants 1997 DK Publishing 127–128 Pirone Pascal P. Diseases & Pests of Ornamental Plants Fifth Edition 1978 John Wiley & Sons, New York 139–140 Cranshaw Whitney Garden Insects of North America: The Ultimate Guide to Backyard Bugs 2004 Princeton University Press 580 Pippa Greenwood, Andrew Halstead, A.R. Chase, Daniel Gilrein American Horticultural Society Pests & Diseases: The Complete Guide to Preventing, Identifying, and Treating Plant Problems First Edition 2000 Dorling Kindersley (DK) Publishing, inc. 198