Aquilegia vulgaris Winky Double Dark-Blue-White - Columbine

Aquilegia vulgaris 'Winky Double Dark-Blue-White' brings something new to the realm of garden columbines. It displays double and ruffled flowers in late spring, resembling small pale blue satin rosettes with a variegated indigo blue centre, reaching towards the sky. This highly floriferous variety develops into small bushy and vigorous clumps, with delicate bluish foliage that is resistant to mildew. It establishes itself and self-seeds freely in the garden, not always faithfully, in moist and partially shaded soil. This charming and romantic perennial will add a lot of character to borders and flowering pots.

Aquilegia vulgaris 'Winky Double Dark-Blue-White' belongs to the family of buttercups. It is a recent cultivar from the 'Winky' series, distinguished by plants with round and double flowers, solid or bicoloured with excellent floribundity. It is derived from Aquilegia vulgaris (or clematiflora), native to Europe, North Africa, and temperate Asia, growing in clearings, meadows, and forest clearings in deciduous woods. It is a very hardy herbaceous perennial, forming a compact and upright clump, 30 to 35 cm (12 to 14in) tall when in bloom, and 32 cm (13in) wide, with abundant foliage from which long floral stems branch upwards. From May to June, beautiful double flowers, 4 cm (2in) in diameter, grouped in pairs or threes, stand erect on top of stems. They are equipped with long, horned spurs. Its deciduous bluish-green foliage is quite decorative with the cut leaves at the base give a sense of lightness.

Horned columbines were already cultivated in medieval flower beds, and cottage gardens have perpetuated the tradition. Compact and discreet, they are essential in mixed borders, where they bring lightness. They can 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, along the edge of woodland or on a slope. They will look magnificent when planted in groups to form a dense clump. Pick them when they have just opened for beautiful country-style bouquets. In woodlands, in a 'romantic garden' spirit, 'Winky Double Dark Blue White' can be associated with various perennials, like ferns, foxgloves, bleeding hearts, or corydalis. Its modest size allows it to be grown in pots, where it performs very well.