Perennials Aquilegia

Description

Special Features of Aquilegia

Aquilegia (common names Granny's Bonnet or Columbine) is a genus of perennial herbaceous plants belonging to the buttercup family Ranunculaceae. Wild Aquilegias occur in temperate climate areas of Europe, Asia, and America; varietal forms are widely grown all over the world.

The Latin name is derived from the words "aqua", which means "water" and "lego", which means "collect". Indeed, Aquilegia collects raindrops or dew on its petals, which looks like tiny transparent pearls. Some scientists believe that the name comes from the Latin word "aquila", which means "eagle". In the Middle Ages, Aquilegia was believed to protect from black magic and was considered a symbol of the Holy Spirit. Now all over the world, this plant is a symbol of the seven virtues. Aquilegia caerulea is also a flower symbol of the State of Colorado, USA.

Aquilegia has a tap root system that allows, if necessary, drawing moisture from the soil depths. Dissected grey green leaves are located on long stalks and collected in the rosette. The peduncles are strong and vary from 20 to 130 centimeters long in different species. Attractive flowers about 5 centimeters in diameter are uniquely shaped and collected in paniculate inflorescences. The flowers can be simple or double, with diverse colouring. Flowering occurs from spring or summer to autumn. The fruit is a pod with small black seeds that remain viable for 1-3 years. Be careful when handling the seeds because they contain cyanide and are toxic.

In garden cultivation, Aquilegia looks great in any type of plantings, both solitary and group. These plants decorate flower beds and borders; low-growing varieties are mostly used in alpine gardens, where Aquilegia looks good on the background of Saxifrage and Gentian. It is also cultivated as a container culture for decoration of balconies and porches. Tall varieties look great in ridges and mixed borders accompanied with Lupine, Iris, Bluebells, grasses, Astilbe, or Athyrium. Aquilegia is also often planted near ponds or under tall trees. In addition, cu plants last long and look great in bouquets.

The genus Aquilegia comprises about a hundred species. Depending on the presence of a spur and their shapes, the species are divided into:

- European species with a short hook- or ring-shaped spur:

Aquilegia alpine reaches about 30 centimeters tall and has large purple blue flowers.

Aquilegia glandulosa is a low-growing plant with hairy stems and violet blue flowers that bloom in late spring.

Aquilegia vulgaris grows up to one meter tall and has large variously coloured flowers up to 5 centimeters.

Aquilegia bertolonii is is a low-growing species with blue flowers blossoming in the second half of spring.

Aquilegia olympica grows to 35-55 centimeters tall and has pubescent peduncles and large white and blue flowers.

- American species with a long, straight spur and often bright colors of flowers of red gold colouring:

Aquilegia caerulea grows to 70 centimeters tall and has violet blue sepals with white petals.

Aquilegia Canadensis grows up to 60 centimeters tall, with red and yellow flowers, blooming in late spring.

Aquilegia chrysantha grows to one meter and has numerous golden flowers that bloom in June.

Aquilegia skinneri grows to 75 centimeters tall and has yellowish scarlet flowers that bloom in late summer.

- Chinese and Japanese species with no spurs:

Aquilegia ecalcarata grows to about 20 centimeters tall and has cherry blossoms blooming in all its glory in the second half of summer.

Wild species are very rare in gardens and parks. For landscape design, hybrid varieties are mostly used. Aquilegia × hybrida ranges from 50 centimeters to 1 meter tall, with a variety of colouring and double flowers. Most of these plants originated from Aquilegia vulgaris crossed with American species.

The Secrets to Successfully Growing Aquilegia

Growers love Aquilegia for its absolute simplicity, hardiness and an ability to grow over the years without replanting. Only a few species originating from a warmer climate require winter sheltering. This plant can grow in full sun and in the shade, on any soil type; however it blooms best in partial shade on fertile well-drained soils.

Basic care for the plant involves weeding, soil loosening, plenty of water in the dry season and complex fertilizers once or twice per season. After flowering, cut stems by one-third. Every spring, you need to top-dress Aquilegia with soil as the roots will begin to bulge out over time.

Although Aquilegia and is considered a perennial, after 3-5 years it becomes less attractive and the flowering is not so profuse, so it needs to be rejuvenated.

Aquilegia is easily propagated from seed. Sow the seed before winter. Thin out the shots that appear in the spring. Alternatively, seeds can be sown in March and April, preferably after pre-stratification for one month in the refrigerator at a temperature of 5-7 ° C or in the snow, in a rather deep container with soil. Do not sow them deep; sprinkle the soil instead of watering. When the seedlings appear, mist them with water. To create greenhouse conditions, cover the seeds with PE film. The container should be placed in a warm room with a temperature of 15-20 ° C. After sprouting, regularly remove the cover for ventilation and place the container in a cool well-lit place. If the seedlings grow too densely, prick them out after they develop a pair of leaves so that the distance between the young plants is about 5 centimeters. When the threat of frost has passed (usually in May), plant the seedlings in a permanent place in the open ground spacing them 20-40 centimeters apart. Protect from the sunlight for the first time. Feed young

Aquilegia if the soil does not have sufficient micronutrients and water plentifully but not often. Next spring, the plants will bloom with attractive flowers. Self-seeding is common so make sure to remove spent flower heads to prevent going to seeds.

Aquilegia can be propagated basal cuttings. For propagation take young shoots from unfolded leaves. Cut the shoots off right at the roots, plant in the air-permeable soil to a depth of 1 centimeter, covered with PE film to create the greenhouse effect, protect from the sunlight and regularly water.

You may also propagate by division in the spring or in August-September. Carefully dig out the clump, cut the old leaves, and very carefully wash the roots. Use a sharp knife to divide the clump into parts each of them containing 3-4 buds and several roots, powder the cut with charcoal. Plant in the fertile soil. However, vegetative reproduction is not always successful, as Aquilegia does not tolerate replanting and may die if the roots are damaged.

Potential Problems

In general, Aquilegia is trouble-free and rarely gets diseases, but with frequent changes of weather it may be affected with powdery mildew, rot, rust, spotted, or nematodes. When you spot the first signs of disease, remove and burn the affected parts and treat the whole plant with fungicide. To prevent diseases, make sure your plantings are not too dense and normalize watering.

Young shoots are often damaged by caterpillars, cutworms, aphids, leaf miners, and spider mites. If you detect infestation, apply insecticide.