Aquilegia vulgaris Blue Barlow - Columbine

Aquilegia, like most mountain perennials, requires well-drained soil: plant in a light substrate, preferably chalky and possibly supplemented with sand, in a semi-shaded or sunny location. Hardy but with a short lifespan, it tends to disappear after a few seasons but will easily self-seed if you do not cut all the stems after flowering. It is quite susceptible to diseases and parasites, notably aphids and powdery mildew.