Flora Meets Fauna Part 2 Aquilegia (Columbine)
Posted by John Friel on Nov 5th 2020
Flights of Fancy in the Backyard Zoo! Don’t look now, but critters have taken root in your garden. Relax, they’re friendly – and they’re animals in name only. Let’s meet one... heck, make it two – in one plant!
Aquilegia: Bird of prey, or bird of peace? The genus name comes from the Latin for eagle (aquila), because the long petal spurs reminded Linnaeus of an eagle’s talons. But the common name, columbine, is from the Latin for dove (columba), because someone else thought the flower resembled doves with their heads together.
Either way, war or peace, Aquilegia is a prime early bloomer, a traditional harbinger of spring. We offer over a dozen choices. Let’s look at our newest catalog additions!
Bred for vibrant colors, neat mounding habit and uniform cropping, this compact variety offers two two-tone options (Purple White and Red Yellow) and a cheerful Mixture of more colors and bicolors. Just 9 – 11” tall, they’re hardy in Zones 3 – 9.
It’s not just for spring anymore! Bred for uniform flowering across varieties, this one’s a little taller and downright programmable. Your choice of Deep Blue & White, Rose & Pink, or Mix. Standing 14 – 24” tall, they’re hardy in Zones 5 – 9.
Tune in again for more garden critters. Next time: Hey! How did these pigs and rabbits get in here?
Give your customers the gift of fauna-inspired flora. We tame them for you in smooth-handling, fast-finishing liners from Emerald Coast Growers – the easy choice!