| Common Name | Columbine |
| Genus | Aquilegia |
| Species | A. caerulea, A. vulgaris, A. x hybrida |
| Family | Ranunculaceae |
| Life Cycle | Perennial (short-lived, approximately 3-4 years) |
| Format | 32 cell plug tray |
| Plug Care | Transplant plugs as soon as possible after arrival. Water thoroughly post-transplant and maintain even soil moisture until well established; minimal care needed once roots are set. |
| Netting / Staking | Not necessary, plants naturally support their flowering stems. |
| Temperature Range | USDA Zones 3-9; benefits from cool-moderate climates and part-shade or shade in hot regions. |
| Spacing | 12-18 inches apart to provide airflow and reduce disease pressure. |
| Soil Preference | Average to rich, well-drained soils with slight acidity; organically amended soil improves health. Very easy going, will grow in most soils. |
| Day Length | Neutral. Full sun to part shade, depending on climate (partial shade in hot regions). |
| Pinching | Not Required |
| When to Plant | Transplant in early spring, around the time of last frost; fall planting is also possible to establish before winter. |
| Harvesting | Harvest for cut flowers just as buds begin to open. Cut long stems down to the rosette of foliage to encourage additional stems. |
| Post Harvest Care | Re-cut stems and immediately place in clean, cool water. Holding solution will maximize vase life. Store in a cooler for a couple of days if necessary. |
| Diseases / Insects | Monitor for leaf miner damage, sawfly larvae, powdery mildew, and downy mildew. Ensure good air circulation and promptly remove affected foliage. |
| Bailey's Notes | Aquilegia plugs establish rapidly into perennial borders. The Barlow Series, without prominent spurs, offers sturdy stems and double blooms with exceptional vase life (up to two weeks). Swan and Kirigami series, along with other traditional cultivars, provide nodding, spurred blooms ideal for early-spring bouquets. Regular deadheading extends bloom duration and prevents excessive self-seeding. If left to set seed, plants will self-sow readily and successive generations may not look the same as parent plants. Though short-lived in commercial beds, replacing tired clumps annually with fresh plugs maximizes productivity and flower quality. |
| Resources | N/A |