Aquilegia Earlybird Purple Blue (Columbine)

Prized for its vibrant colors and neatly mounded habit, Aquilegia Earlybird Purple Blue (Columbine) is a compact perennial boasting a profusion of long-spurred, bright purple and sky blue flowers. Blooming profusely in late spring to early summer, the blossoms are borne on relatively short stems and rise elegantly above the lacy, deeply-cut foliage. Noted for its controlled habit, this columbine is generally short-lived but will self-seed in the landscape in satisfactory growing conditions. Excellent for both the landscape and containers. As an added bonus, the flowers will last well in cut arrangements.

• Grows up to 9-12 in. tall and wide (22-30 cm).
• Performs best in full sun to part shade, in loose, average to rich, moist, well-drained soils. Seriously dislikes poorly drained soils! Rich, moist soils in part shade are preferred.
• Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies, but it is deer and rabbit resistant.
• Easy to grow, this plant is a welcomed addition to beds, borders, cottage gardens, shade gardens or containers. Excellent cut flowers lasting up to 2 weeks in a vase.
• Removing spent flowers will increase the blooming time.
• Subject to fungal diseases, borers, leaf miners, and aphids.
• Propagate by sowing named seed rather than by division. Mature plants do not like to be disturbed.
• Remove faded flowering stems to promote additional bloom. Cut to the ground when the foliage declines in the fall.

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.