Aquilegia hybrid is a captivating perennial known for its distinctive spurred flowers, resembling a flock of hovering birds. These intricate blooms come in a variety of hues, often combining multiple colors in a single blossom. Thriving in well-drained soil, aquilegia hybrid flourishes in sun-dappled environments, which accentuate the vibrant colors and graceful foliage of this garden favorite.
I. Appearance and CharacteristicsÂ
Aquilegia × hybrida is a hybrid species of columbine, the result of a cross between Aquilegia vulgaris and Aquilegia canadensis.
Aquilegia × hybrida often has bicoloured flowers with blue or purple sepals and white petals, but can also be all-blue or all-white or many other colours. It grows to between 30cm and 90cm, and is a hardy perennial flowering in May and June.
Aquilegia × hybrida was first identified by the botanist John Sims in 1809 from examples sent from Brompton, now part of London. Sims was uncertain whether the plant was a hybrid or a species in its own right, noting that its similarity to Siberian examples of Aquilegia vulgaris at Kew Gardens might mean the latter, but also noting the variation between bicoloured and single-coloured form suggested hybridity.
II. How to Grow and Care
Sunlight
Most Columbines prefer a semi-shaded environment, but they can also grow well under full sunlight in areas where it is cool in summer. It is necessary to avoid direct long-time sunlight in the hot summer, otherwise it will easily wither, so appropriate shading for the plant is suggested. You can put it on the indoor windowsill if used as a potted plant so hummingbirds, bees and butterflies will come during the flowering period.
Aquilegia yabeana is one of the few heat-resistant plants that can stand direct sunlight at the same time among Columbines.
Temperature
Aquilegia hybrid is relatively cold-resistant and heat-resistant and is usually cultivated in subtropical areas where the weather is hot and humid in summer. Its optimum hardiness zones are 3-9 and usually blooms in late spring and early summer, and sudden warming may lead to an early end of the flower phase. It tends to produce more flowers in cool summer. It prefers a humid environment without water accumulation and should be watered less frequently in the warmer summer to prevent the root or buds from rotting.
A variety of Columbines native to Europe, such as Common columbine (Aquilegia vulgaris), has similar habits with most Columbines. It grows well in cool summer but has a short growing cycle, so it is mostly planted in flower beds as annual flowers.
Golden columbine (Aquilegia chrysantha) native to North America is a relatively heat-resistant species of Columbines. If it is planted in a partially shaded environment in summer, it can continue to bloom in high temperature, with few symptoms of decaying or wilting. It has a very long flowering period and can bloom throughout the spring and summer and even in the early fall. It may not bloom in the first year after sowing and may only grows a few basal leaves, and it will grow rapidly in the early spring of the next year after accumulating enough nutrients.
Colorado blue columbine (Aquilegia coerulea), also native to North America, is a a quick-flowered Columbines species after sowing. It can bloom in abundance in the first year after sowing, and can bloom as early as the following early spring if planted in autumn. However, since it is native to higher elevations of the Rockies in the United States, its hybrid progeny is less heat-resistant. Colorado blue columbine will reduce flowering when the temperature rises in hot and humid areas in summer and often wither and die in the first summer. If it is planted in a shaded, well ventilated environment and watered less frequently, it may live through the hot summer and produce more flowers in the following year.
Fan columbine (Aquilegia flabellata), native to Asia, is a very heat-resistant and cold-resistant species. The morphology of the plant is extremely compact and it can be cultivated at -35 ℃ and can survive at 40 ℃ in summer. However, its flowering period is relatively short, only lasting about one month in summer when the temperature is high, and about two months when it is planted in Asia where the weather is cool in summer and cold in winter.
Canadian Red columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) prefers moist soil, while Desert columbine (Aquilegia desertorum) is more drought-resistant. Green-flowered columbine (Aquilegia viridiflora) is probably the most drought-resistant species of Columbines, which can grow in limestone crevices that are difficult to preserve water. It blooms very early with a very long flowering period, and is easy to spread naturally.
Watering
Aquilegia hybrid prefers a slightly moist but well-drained growing environment, so it can be watered once a week or watered until the soil is dry through. As the plant is thin and weak, water it slowly without too much.
Soil
Aquilegia hybrid likes moist but well-drained sandy loam with plenty of nutrients and neutral acidity. The use of clayey soil should be avoided with an appropriate pH of 5.7 to 7. Garden soil mixed with sand, peat, compost and humus can be used to plant aquilegia hybrid to ensure adequate soil nutrients and good air permeability. A layer of covering can be added to the soil surface to preserve heat in winter.
Since its root system is relatively shallow, it does not need to prepare too deep soil or too deep flowerpot, a shallow place or flowerpot will be fine, and it is also preferable to plant it around trees with a developed root system. The recommended distance between each plant is at least 30 cm.
Fertilizing
One or two teaspoons of general plant fertilizer or bone meal can be mixed into the soil as the base fertilizer before planting, and liquid fertilizer can be applied to Columbines once a month during the growing season to promote leaf growth and make the flowers more attractive.
Planting Instructions
Aquilegia hybrid is mostly perennial plants and can generally live for 4 to 5 years, with some species only living for 1 to 2 years. We can propagate it by sowing or transplanting in general. Since the seeds of aquilegia hybrid have a short shelf life, they should be sown in the year of collection. Prepare slightly moistened sandy soil before sowing, spread the seeds evenly and press the soil gently and cover it with a layer of glass instead of a layer of fine soil and then place it in a shady environment with a temperature at about 18 to 24 ℃ for germination.
It takes a relatively long time for seeds to germinate, which is about 2 to 4 weeks, and it may take a few seeds several months to break the dormancy and finally germinate. In general, seeds of aquilegia hybrid do not need to be exposed to low temperature to promote germination, but if the seeds do not germinate after a long time, they can be stored at a low temperature environment of -4 to 4 ℃ for 2 to 4 weeks to break the dormancy, and then they can be taken out again for sowing. Seeds that are not used for the time being can also be stored in a refrigerator at low temperature until the next sowing season.
Aquilegia hybrid has a strong ability of self-seeding and can spread naturally without being sown, so you can also transplant the seedlings and place them where you want them. Its root cap should be flush with the soil surface and all the fragile and fine roots should all be buried in the soil when transplanting.
As the root system of aquilegia hybrid is relatively fragile, which is not very suitable for division propagation, so if you have to divide a plant, you need to dig out the whole plant and use a sharp knife to divide the whole root system into several clumps and plant them separately as soon as possible without shaking off the root soil. It is better to divide plants in spring and support them with plant stakes when the plant grows higher.
Pruning
You can cut off the withered leaves in summer thus they can regrow. Pruning the withered flowers in time can reduce unnecessary nutrient consumption and prolong the flowering period.
If there is no need to collect seeds at the end of the flowering period, all the above-ground parts of the plant can be cut back for its germination in the next year. The whole plant can be uprooted in fall if the aquilegia hybrid has been planted for three or four years and new seedlings can be planted with seeds.
Propagation
Aquilegia hybrid is successfully propagated through sowing. Gardeners should obtain fresh seeds and surface-sow them as they require light for germination. A well-draining soil mix is ideal for fostering healthy seedlings. Once sown, maintain consistent moisture and provide indirect sunlight. Thinning may be required for optimal growth as seedlings develop. Gentle handling is crucial during transplanting to avoid damaging tender roots.
