Aquilegia vulgaris var. stellata ‘Ruby Port’ (Columbine)

An heirloom columbine variety that dates back to the 1600s, Aquilegia vulgaris var. stellata ‘Ruby Port’ (Columbine) is particularly beautiful with its fully double, spurless, rich wine-red blooms opening in late spring to early summer. Rising with natural grace above a ferny foliage emerging burgundy-maroon and aging to blue-green, this Aquilegia has a strong growth habit and looks great with ornamental grasses or white Alliums.

• Grows in a bushy, upright clump up to 24-36 in. high (60-90 cm) and spreads 12-18 in. (30-45 cm). This perennial is generally short-lived but will self-seed prolifically to form large colonies in satisfactory growing conditions.
• 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 rabbit and deer!
• Easy to grow, this plant is a welcomed addition to beds, borders, rock gardens, cottage gardens, shade gardens or naturalized areas. Excellent cut flowers lasting up to 2 weeks in a vase!
• Susceptible to leaf miner.
• May be grown from seed sown directly in the garden in spring (after 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 the 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.