Aquilegia vulgaris Clementine Red - Columbine

Aquilegia vulgaris double 'Clementine Red' is another hybrid columbine from the lovely 'Clementine' series. This one stands out with the magnificent red-pink colour of its double flowers that, unusually, face upright towards the sky. It is part of a collection of compact, long-lasting and on-trend cultivars, particularly suitable for ornamental containers. This very hardy perennial flowers in late spring and continues if you remove the faded flowers as they appear. Really easy to grow, it requires no special care in ordinary, moist soil.

Aquilegia vulgaris double 'Clementine Red' belongs to the family of ranunculaceae. It is a cultivar derived from Aquilegia vulgaris (or clematiflora), native to Europe, North Africa, and temperate Asia. In nature, this columbine grows in deciduous forest clearings and meadows. It is a very hardy herbaceous perennial, whose above-ground vegetation develops in spring and disappears in winter. It forms a compact and erect, tuft of leaves, 30 cm (12in) tall and 25-30 cm (10-12in) wide from which long floral stems rise upwards. In May-June, 40 cm (16in) tall floral stems emerge at the top of which charming double flowers bloom. Unlike the corollas of other columbines, they lack long horned spurs and are not facing down towards the ground, instead, they open widely towards the sky, revealing a pale yellow throat with pale yellow stamens. Its bluish-green foliage is quite decorative, and the cut-out basal leaves give a sense of lightness.

Columbines were already cultivated in medieval flower beds, and the tradition was perpetuated in cottage gardens. Unassuming and full of charm, they are essential in mixed borders, where they bring lightness. The varieties from the Clementine series are more compact and floriferous and grow very well in pots. They can also be planted in many different areas of the garden, taking care to leave a space of 20 cm (8in) around each plant: in the middle of a perennial bed, in a border, at the base of bushes, on the edge of woodlands or on a slope. They will look stunning when planted in groups to create a dense clump. Pick them just as they open for beautiful country-style bouquets. In flower beds, in a "cottage garden" spirit, 'Clementine Red' can be paired with all kinds of perennials, like Foxgloves, Bleeding Hearts, or Peachleaf Bellflowers, for example.