PerennialsAquilegia vulgaris
Common Columbine
Common Columbine is a charming perennial with graceful, spurred flowers in purple, blue, and pink hues. The grey-green, three-lobed leaves form a loose rosette. From May to June, the distinctive blooms appear on slender, branched stems — a delightful sight in any partly shaded border.
Characteristics
- Sun
- Partial shade, Full sun
- Water
- Medium
- Height
- 50–80 cm
- Spread
- 30–50 cm
- Hardiness zone
- 3–8
- Family
- Ranunculaceae
- Evergreen
- No
- Flower colors
- purple, blue, pink
- Wildlife value
- bees, hummingbirds, butterflies
Bloom period
Care guide
Plant in partial shade or sun in moist, humus-rich soil. Columbine self-seeds prolifically — remove seed heads if you wish to prevent spreading. Water regularly during dry spells. Leave the foliage after flowering until it dies back naturally.
Pruning tips
Cut flower stems after blooming if you do not want self-sowing. Remove foliage only once it has fully died back. Fresh leaves emerge from the rootstock in spring.
Good companions
PerennialsDigitalis purpurea
Foxglove
Foxglove is an imposing plant with tall flower spikes packed with thimble-shaped blooms in purple, pink, or white. The flowers appear from June to July on one-sided spires reaching up to one and a half metres. The plant is biennial but self-sows reliably, returning each summer. Note: all parts are poisonous.
PerennialsAstilbe × arendsii
False Spirea
False Spirea is an elegant shade plant with feathery plumes in pink, red, or white above deeply cut foliage. It blooms from June to August, and the plumes retain their ornamental value even when dried. Astilbe thrives in moist, shady spots where many other plants struggle.
PerennialsHosta sieboldiana
Hosta
Hosta is the quintessential shade plant, valued for its large, blue-green, ribbed leaves. Light purple or white bell-shaped flowers appear on tall stems in July and August. Over the years the plant forms substantial clumps that give a shaded border a lush character.