Aquilegia vulgaris Ruby Port - Columbine

Aquilegia vulgaris 'Ruby Port' is a very old variety of columbine whose double flowers, in a rich ruby red to wine red, resemble small, tousled roses. They sway at the tips of slender, dark stems, well above the foliage. Very hardy and undemanding in moist, well-drained soil, this perennial grows easily in partial shade or gentle sunlight. Its lifespan is fairly short, but it readily self-seeds in beds and borders.

Columbine belongs to the buttercup family. It is a herbaceous perennial: its above-ground growth dies back in winter and new leaves emerge from the crown in spring. The species Aquilegia vulgaris is native to Europe and also grows naturally in France, in open woodland, woodland edges and slightly shaded meadows, on various soils that do not dry out too much in summer. 'Ruby Port' is a horticultural variety that has been grown in gardens since the 17th century. It belongs to the group of forms known as stellata, recognisable by their double flowers without the long spurs characteristic of many columbines. In spring, the plant first forms a clump of rounded leaves, divided into several lobes and borne on long petioles. The young leaves may take on brownish-purple shades before becoming blue-green to light green. Flowering extends from May to July. Branched stems rise above this clump and reach 70 to 80 cm in height. Their reddish-brown to purple colouring harmonises perfectly with that of the flowers. Each bears several nodding or almost horizontal flowers, approximately 3 cm in diameter, filled with narrow, dark red petals, revealing a few yellow stamens visible at the centre. After flowering, capsules containing numerous seeds appear. Self-sown seedlings in light, open soil ensure new plants. In the garden, if several varieties of columbine are growing nearby, these young plants may produce flowers different from those of 'Ruby Port'. Its hardiness is excellent, well below -20 °C.

In an English-style border or cottage garden, this 'Ruby Port' variety combines well with other partial-shade flowers. For example, Geranium phaeum 'Album', Geum rivale 'Leonard’s Variety', Dicentra spectabilis 'Alba' and Digitalis purpurea 'Alba'. The columbine’s wine red colour stands out beautifully among white and old rose tones, and the flowers follow one another from spring to early summer. These plants can be left to mingle freely rather than arranged in regular rows: this planting style suits the slightly wandering character of columbine.