Aquilegia ‘Crimson Star’ (Columbine)

Aquilegia Crimson Star’ is very eye-catching with its long-spurred, bright crimson-red flowers with a white corolla, rising with natural grace above a compact mound of fern-like, light green foliage. Blooming for 4-6 weeks in late spring to early summer, this perennial is generally short-lived but will self-seed prolifically.

• Grows in a bushy, upright clump, up to 24-30 in. tall (60-75 cm) and 18-24 in. wide (45-60 cm).
• Performs best in full sun to part shade, in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils. Seriously dislikes poorly drained soils! Rich, moist soils in part shade are preferred. Do not let the soil dry out.
• Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies, but is ignored by rabbits and deer!
• Easy to grow, this plant is a welcomed addition to beds, borders, cottage gardens, shade gardens, or naturalized areas. This compact Columbine may also be grown in containers, and it makes good cut flowers!
• Susceptible to leaf miner.
• May be grown from seed sown directly in the garden in spring (after the danger of frost has passed). Division is possible in spring, but it may take some time for the plant to recover.
• Remove faded flowering stems to promote additional bloom. Cut to the ground when the foliage declines (around midsummer).
• Contact with sap may irritate the skin

Aquilegia is a genus of clump-forming, short-lived perennials noted for their late spring to midsummer blooms of single or double, short-spurred or spurless flowers, in a variety of colors ranging from blue to violet to white to pink to red. A classic element of herbaceous borders, Columbines mix beautifully with peonies, irises, alliums, and roses.