Aquilegia flabellata explained

Aquilegia flabellata, common name fan columbine or dwarf columbine, is a perennial herbaceous flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, native to North and East Asia.

Description

Aquilegia flabellata grows to 20- in height. It has slightly glaucous, divided leaves. It has pale blue, violet-blue or lavender flowers, about in width, with creamy-white petals. Its appearance is very similar to that of Aquilegia sibirica.

Taxonomy

Etymology

The specific epithet flabellata is Latin for "fan-shaped".

Distribution and habitat

This species is native to North and East Asia, including Amur, Buryatiya, Zabaykalsky Krai, Khabarovsk, Irkutsk, Primorye, Sakhalin, Sakha, and the Kuril Islands in Russia, Inner Mongolia, Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Liaoning in China, Mongolia, northern and central Japan, and North Korea. It grows in mountain forests and cliffs.

Ecology

Aquilegia flabellata blooms from April to July.

Pests and diseases

The fungi Rhizoctonia solani and Alternaria alternata have been recorded as causing leaf blight and leaf spots on the leaves of Aquilegia flabellata.

Cultivation

This low-growing columbine is suitable for cultivation in an alpine garden or rockery. Numerous cultivars have been selected for garden use. The compact varieties A. flabellata var. pumila and A. flabellata var. pumila f. alba have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.