Aquilegia alpina
Aquilegia alpina, also known as the Alpine Columbine, is a graceful and hardy perennial known for its vivid blue, nodding flowers and delicate, fern-like foliage. Native to European mountain regions, this charming plant brings natural elegance to cottage gardens, borders, and wildflower-style plantings. Flowering in late spring and early summer, it adds movement, colour, and a touch of wild beauty to any garden space.
Quick Facts
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Common Name: Alpine Columbine
Flower Colour: Bright blue with a central white or pale eye
Height: 60cm (2ft)
Spread: 20cm (0.7ft)
Flowering Time: May to June
Hardiness: Hardy in the UK down to temperatures of -15 to -10 degrees Celcius (RHS hardiness rating H5)
Position: Full sun to partial shade
Soil: Moist but well-drained, fertile soil; prefers slightly alkaline to neutral pH
Elegant, Nodding Blooms
Aquilegia alpina produces an abundance of striking, bonnet-shaped flowers, each with long spurred petals in a rich shade of blue. The flowers nod gently on slender stems, bringing lightness and natural grace to the garden. Their unique form and vivid colour make them a standout in mixed borders and cottage-style planting schemes.
Soft, Airy Foliage
The finely divided, lacy foliage forms an attractive base mound that remains fresh-looking throughout the growing season. The soft green leaves provide a lovely contrast to bolder garden plants and help fill out borders with texture and movement, even after flowering has finished.
Ideal for Naturalistic and Cottage Gardens
Aquilegia alpina is perfect for informal planting styles, including cottage gardens, wildlife-friendly areas, and naturalistic meadows. It blends beautifully with other late-spring and early-summer perennials, thriving in dappled shade or sunlit borders. It’s especially striking when planted in drifts among ferns, grasses, and early summer-flowering companions.
Loved by Pollinators
The nectar-rich flowers of Aquilegia alpina are a magnet for bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects, making it a valuable addition to wildlife gardens. Their open, spurred structure provides easy access for pollinators and supports garden biodiversity.
Easy to Grow and Self-Seeding
This columbine is a reliable and undemanding plant that returns year after year with minimal attention. It often self-seeds in suitable conditions, gently spreading to form small colonies without becoming invasive. Deadheading spent blooms can reduce self-seeding if preferred, or leave them in place to enjoy naturalistic drifts in future seasons.
Growing Tips
Watering: Water regularly in dry periods, especially during flowering.
Feeding: Apply a balanced fertiliser in spring to encourage strong growth.
Pruning: Deadhead to prolong flowering and control self-seeding. Cut back foliage in late autumn if desired.
Potted: Suitable for large containers with rich, well-drained compost.
Propagation: Can be propagated by seed or division. Allow seedlings to establish where they fall for a natural look.
Fully Hardy and Weather Resilient
Aquilegia alpina is fully hardy across the UK and performs well even in exposed or cooler gardens. It withstands late spring frosts and thrives in a range of garden soils, provided drainage is good.
Companion Planting Ideas
Pair Aquilegia alpina with other cottage garden or alpine-style plants for a classic and colourful combination, such as:
These companions help create lush, layered borders with plenty of colour and wildlife interest.
Why Choose Aquilegia alpina?
For gardeners seeking a hardy, graceful perennial with natural charm, Aquilegia alpina is a superb choice. Its long flowering season, attractive foliage, and pollinator appeal make it a versatile and rewarding plant for both new and experienced gardeners.
Bring a touch of alpine beauty and cottage garden charm to your garden with the timeless elegance of Aquilegia alpina.
Buying Perennials from Jacksons Nurseries
At Jacksons Nurseries we lightly trim back our perennials after flowering and trim them back at the end of the season to ensure that the plants remain neat and tidy whilst in the pot. The more tender the plant the less we cut back to help protect exposed stems from winter frost. Depending on the plant variety we will then prune back further in spring once the risk of the more severe frosts is over.
As a result, depending on the time of year you buy perennials, they may not look like images showing their ‘prime time’ in flower and looking at their best.
From late autumn onwards and dependent on variety, there may be very little visible above the soil except for a few cut back dormant leaves or stems. It is perfectly normal for dormant plants to look like this from autumn onwards, they will however burst back into life in spring.
Availability: Stock availability figures are provided as a guide only. There is a delay between orders being placed and the plants being gathered by our pulling team. During this time it may be possible for a member of the public to purchase these plants from our Garden Centre, while this is rare it is a possibility and we will notify you of any problems as soon as possible. This figure may also include plants that have not yet be flagged as unsaleable.
Pre-order: Pre-order times are given as a guide only and may vary dependent on the growing season. Orders containing Pre-ordered products will be shipped as a single order when all items become available. Large orders may be part shipped, please contact us on 01782 502741 or email sales@jacksonsnurseries.co.uk.
Perennials are described and classified differently by different gardeners but all would agree that they are plants that come into flower every year from early spring to late summer, the exact time dependent on variety and most die back to ground level in autumn and winter.
As for all plants, soil preparation is time well spent. Dig over the area to be planted ensuring that the ground is free draining. If not then you may wish to either consider planting in a different spot or raising the level of the planting area by adding additional topsoil, well rotted garden compost and/or well rotted manure. Add ‘Fish, Blood and Bone’ fertiliser or a high potash fertiliser to encourage good root growth and development.
It’s always a good idea to plant a few of the same plant together, we recommend planting in 3’s or 5’s to provide a bold effect but allowing them plenty of room to develop.
Always check eventual plant heights when planning borders to ensure that the taller plants are at the back (or at the centre of an island bed) followed by the medium and then smaller low growing plants.
Remember to deadhead perennials after flowering, trim back lightly in autumn as required to tidy the border and if necessary trim again in spring once the risk of heavy frost has passed.
If perennials get too big, start to flower less and less or if it seems to be dying off from the centre, consider dividing the plant but always check that the particular variety is happy to be divided and that you divide at the right time of year for the plant.
By using this simple guide and a little time, perennials can make an absolutely spectacular difference to your garden.