Deciduous Perennial Compact, Bushy, Clump-forming in the Ranunculaceae Family
A classic cottage-garden columbine strain, Biedermeier produces an old-fashioned mix of white, pink, red, and blue blooms on a compact, sturdy plant shorter than most columbines.
Aquilegia (Biedermeier Group), often sold simply as Biedermeier columbine, is a compact, old-fashioned strain of columbine derived from Aquilegia vulgaris, the European granny's bonnet. Plants form neat, dense mounds of blue-green, lobed foliage topped in spring by nodding, spurred flowers in a mix of white, pink, red, and blue. Its shorter, sturdier habit than many columbines makes it a good fit for the front of a border or a container.
Pros
Compact, sturdy habit -- shorter than many other columbines
Wide mix of flower colors from a single seed strain
Attracts hummingbirds and other pollinators
Easy from seed and reliably perennial once established
Cons
Foliage often declines by midsummer and looks best cut back after bloom
Susceptible to leaf miner
Self-seeded offspring can drift from the original color mix over generations
Highlights
A classic cottage-garden mix, Biedermeier columbine packs an old-fashioned range of white, pink, red, and blue blooms onto a shorter, tidier plant than most columbines -- a good pick for smaller borders or containers where a taller columbine would flop.
Plant Data
Mature Size
12 - 18 inches
tall. 9 - 12 inches
wide.
Growth Rate
Moderate
Sun Exposure
Partial Shade - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance
Medium
Zones
3a - 8b
(Usually hardy to -40° F)
Tags
Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Hummingbirds, Attracts Pollinators, Container, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Extended Bloom Time, Filler, For a Shady Spot, Formal Garden, Full Sun, Good for Accents, Good for Beginners, Good for Borders, Good for Cottage Garden, Good for Cut Flowers, Good for Mass Planting, Medium, Medium, Non-Allergenic, Normal Soil, Partial Shade, Partial Sun, Perennial, Prairie Garden, Rabbit Resistant, Showy Flowers, Tolerant of Clay Soil, Tolerant of Moist Soil, Tolerant of Sandy Soil, Well-Drained Soil, Woodland Garden
We try very hard to source exactly what you’d like, but sometimes growers run out of plants! While this variety is a great deal at the price shown, we know that it has limited availability. If you want the plant even if it might be more expensive, or in a different size or quantity -- after you place your order, just send us a quick note at help@northshoreplantclub.com. Then, we’ll try to get you some version of this from one of our growers. And if we can’t get it from anywhere, of course, we’ll send a refund!
Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants
Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.
Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.
Estimated Recipe Cost
The cost of this recipe's ingredients will vary depending on the season and the sizes and varieties you select.
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To secure the best prices for club members and make sure we know the current plants available from each nursery, we take orders only a couple of times a month.
Shoot us an email at help@northshoreplantclub.com, and we'll be happy to talk about plants or let you know when it's time to buy them!
No Pricing or Availability Right Now
We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region.
It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.
Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!