Granny's Bonnet

Aquilegia vulgaris Nora Barlow

• Position: full sun or partial shade
• Soil: fertile, moist, well-drained soil
• Rate of growth: average
• Flowering period: May and June
• Flower colour: pale green and red
• Other features: excellent cut flowers; deeply divided, fern like leaves
• Hardiness: fully hardy
  
  Masses of pompom like, pale green and rose red flowers in late spring and early summer above deeply divided, fern-like leaves. This charming columbine is guaranteed to create a startling mid border display for a moist, well-drained site. Although short lived, if grown in isolation, the plant self seeds freely, producing seedlings that are true to type.
  
  
• Garden care: Lift and divide large clumps in early spring and apply a generous 5-7cm (2-3in) mulch of well-rotted manure or garden compost around the plant. Divided specimens may take some time to establish since they don't like having their roots disturbed. Contact with the sap may cause skin irritation.
  
  
• Goes well with: Knautia macedonica, Echinops ritro, Papaver orientale 'Black and White', Clematis 'Perle D'Azur', Cerinthe major 'Purpurascens', Rosa banksiae var. alba