Aquilegia Flabellata

Aquilegia flabellata is a compact Japanese columbine that forms neat fans of rounded, blue-green leaflets and short stems carrying nodding blue, lilac or violet flowers with crisp white inner petals. The broad spurs are shorter than those of many hybrid aquilegias, giving the blooms a balanced, almost sculpted form. Its modest height makes it ideal for troughs, rock gardens, containers and the front of a border, where the foliage remains attractive after flowering. Hardy and long lived in cool conditions, it prefers light shade or gentle sun and soil that stays fresh without becoming waterlogged.