Aquilegia vulgaris Winky White and White - Columbine

Aquilegia vulgaris Winky White and White is a unique garden columbine, with double flowers in late spring, resembling small rosettes of pale yellow satin at first, then pure white, standing upright towards the sky. This highly floriferous variety produces small, bushy and vigorous clumps, with pretty blue-green foliage, resistant to mildew. It can be planted anywhere in romantic or countryside borders, and even in pots, in moist soil and partial shade. It requires no special care and easily naturalizes in a shady garden or woodland.

Aquilegia vulgaris 'Winky White and 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, and excellent floribundance. It is derived from Aquilegia vulgaris (or clematiflora), native to Europe, North Africa and temperate Asia, where it grows in clearings, meadows, and deciduous woodland clearings. It is a very hardy herbaceous perennial, forming a compact and erect, leafy clump, 30 cm (12in) tall when in bloom, and 25 cm (10in) wide from which tall floral stems branch upwards. From May to June, pretty double flowers with a diameter of 4 cm (2in) stand on top of the stems, grouped in pairs or threes, facing upwards with long horned spurs. On the same plant, pale yellow corollas coexist with fully bloomed flowers of immaculate white. Its deciduous blue-green foliage is quite decorative, the divided basal leaves give a sense of lightness.

Columbines were already cultivated in the flower beds of the Middle Ages, and cottage gardens have perpetuated the tradition. Compact and unassuming, they are essential in mixed borders, where they bring lightness. They can be planted in many places in the garden, taking care to leave a space of 20 cm (8in) around each plant: in the middle of a perennial border, in a border, at the foot of bushes, on the edge of woodland or on a slope. They will look magnificent when planted in groups to create a dense clump. Pick them when they are just starting to open for beautiful countryside bouquets. In woodlands, in a 'romantic garden' style, 'Winky White and White' can be associated with all kinds of perennials, such as ferns, Foxgloves, Bleeding Hearts or Corydalis. Its modest size allows it to be grown in pots, where it performs very well.