Aquilegia vulgaris var. stellata 'Ruby Port'
granny's bonnet
Compact and upright in habit, this ornamental perennial produces fully double, deep ruby-red blooms in late spring and early summer....
9cm pot
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1
Plant description
Compact and upright in habit, this ornamental perennial produces fully double, deep ruby-red blooms in late spring and early summer. The nodding flowers appear on tall, branching stems above a clump of finely divided, mid-green foliage.
Aquilegia vulgaris var. stellata 'Ruby Port' brings strong visual impact to mixed borders, particularly when paired with contrasting shades like lime green or pale yellow. This cultivar lacks the long spurs found on traditional columbines, giving it a more pompom-like appearance.
Ideal for cottage-style planting, naturalistic schemes or as a cut flower. Deadhead faded flowers to encourage additional blooms or allow them to set seed to establish naturalised drifts. Best refreshed every few years to maintain vigour. A good performer in UK gardens and attractive to pollinators.
Aquilegia vulgaris var. stellata 'Ruby Port' brings strong visual impact to mixed borders, particularly when paired with contrasting shades like lime green or pale yellow. This cultivar lacks the long spurs found on traditional columbines, giving it a more pompom-like appearance.
Ideal for cottage-style planting, naturalistic schemes or as a cut flower. Deadhead faded flowers to encourage additional blooms or allow them to set seed to establish naturalised drifts. Best refreshed every few years to maintain vigour. A good performer in UK gardens and attractive to pollinators.
Eventual height & spread
Flowering period
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Plant features
Position
Full sun / light shade
Rate of growth
Average
Soil
Moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soil
Hardiness
Fully hardy
How to care for Aquilegia vulgaris var. stellata Ruby Port:
Plant Aquilegia in sun or partial shade in moist but well-drained soil. It's tolerant of a range of soil types and will often self-seed if happy, creating natural-looking drifts.
Remove faded flower stems to tidy the plant or leave them to self-seed.
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.
Remove faded flower stems to tidy the plant or leave them to self-seed.
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.
Please note:
This perennial dies back to below ground level each year in autumn, then fresh new growth appears again in spring.
GOES WELL WITH
Aquilegias - nectar-rich and lovely
These cottage garden essentials take their name from Aquila, Latin for eagle, because the nectar-rich spurs at the back of the flower resemble eagle's talons. Their other common name, columbine, is also related to a bird. If you turn the flowers upside d
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