Aquilegia alpina
Aquilegia (Columbine; from Latin columba "dove") is a genus of about 60-70 species of perennials that are found in meadows, woodlands, and at higher altitudes. It is a member of the buttercup family. In our native selections, we carry the adaptable Aquilegia canadensis.
For shear blue beauty, we carry Aquilegia alpina a lovely, long-blooming species, native to European mountain meadows and forests. It has been cultivated for it's beauty for centuries, and is native to the European Alps and Apennines.
The flowers are large and short-spurred, a vibrant profusion of violet-blue gracing 12 to 18 inch tall plants from mid-spring well into summer. Hardy and adaptable, it will self sow, and sometimes cross pollinate with other Aquilegias growing nearby. Leafminers can sometimes be a problem.