Aquilegia Species, Fan Columbine

Aquilegiaflabellata

Family
Ranunculaceae (ra-nun-kew-LAY-see-ee)
Genus
Aquilegia (a-kwi-LEE-jee-a)
Species
flabellata (fla-bel-AH-tuh)
Synonym
Aquilegia akitensis
Aquilegia fauriei
Aquilegia japonica
Aquilegia spectabilis
Sun Exposure
Sun to Partial Shade
Foliage
Herbaceous
Height
6-12 in. (15-30 cm)
12-18 in. (30-45 cm)
Spacing
3-6 in. (7-15 cm)
Hardiness
USDA Zone 4a: to -34.4 °C (-30 °F)
USDA Zone 4b: to -31.6 °C (-25 °F)
USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 °C (-20 °F)
USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 °C (-15 °F)
USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F)
USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F)
USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F)
USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F)
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
Bloom Color
Blue-Violet
Bloom Time
Late Spring/Early Summer
Mid Summer
Other Details
Category
Perennials
Water Requirements
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Foliage Color
Where to Grow
Bloom Characteristics
This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds
Bloom Size
Other details
Soil pH requirements
5.6 to 6.0 (acidic)
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline)
Patent Information
Propagation Methods
From seed; direct sow outdoors in fall
From seed; winter sow in vented containers, coldframe or unheated greenhouse
From seed; stratify if sowing indoors
From seed; sow indoors before last frost
From seed; direct sow after last frost
Self-sows freely; deadhead if you do not want volunteer seedlings next season
Seed Collecting
Allow pods to dry on plant; break open to collect seeds
Regional

This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:

Juneau, Alaska

Seward, Alaska

Denver, Colorado

Wilmette, Illinois

Hebron, Kentucky

Fallston, Maryland

Grand Haven, Michigan

Lexington, Virginia

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Gardener's Notes:

4
positives
1
neutral
0
negative
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A
(Zone 6b) | February 2016 | positive

Most ot this in the trade are not the true species!!! if you have the true one, it is a nice treasure! Aquilegia flabellata grows well i...Read More

S
Denver, CO (Zone 5b) | August 2005 | positive

A great plant and stunning bloomer for a part sun area of my rock garden in Denver. Happy with roots under a rock Foliage tends to burn...Read More

L
Ogden, UT (Zone 5b) | January 2005 | positive

This is one of my favorite columbines. The short plants bloom early and look especially nice in the rock garden, sowing themselves aroun...Read More

W
Seward, AK (Zone 3b) | September 2002 | positive

Blue Fan columbine are one of my favorite spring columbine. The flowers tend to grow closer to the plant, and they are well adapted to th...Read More

B
B
Baa
| February 2002 | neutral

Small perennial from East Asia.

Has soft, mid green leaves divided into 3 (ternate) leaflets or sometimes into 6, leaflets...Read More

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