Plant of the month - May

Aquilegia

Time for another cottage garden favourite – Aquilegia. The native plant produces flowers that with long spurs and an open face – giving its common name of Granny’s Bonnet.

A short-lived perennial it produces pale-green / grey scalloped leaves and flowering stalks often 2 ft + (60cm +) in late spring/ early summer. The flowers can be softer pinks, blues and whites or bright red and yellow. Many are bi-coloured.

Aquilegias usually grow in most soils and cope well with sunny or semi-shaded sites. There are now a variety of different Aquilegias available commercially so check before planting!

The native plant – and a variety of cultivars – can be grown from seed and offer a much cheaper option than buying individual plants.

Aquilegias dislike very dry spots in summer and may suffer from powdery mildew. If they do, cut off all foliage and water. New growth should be produced. Look out for the more deadly downy mildew – which has caused problems across the UK.