These graceful clump-forming perennials are grown mainly for the shape of their bell-like flowers which bloom in mid-spring to summer. A cottage garden favourite, Aquilegias are known as ‘Granny's Bonnet's' and Columbines. Shakespeare and Chaucer mention the flowers in their writings and the flowers were once used medicinally and as a food until, according to Linnaeus, people died as a result!

Breeding over the centuries has brought in some exciting flower shapes from the original ‘bonnet' shape of the Aquilegia vulgaris; the McKana hybrids are bi-coloured with long spurs on the flowers whilst the Biedermeier hybrids are ideal for rock gardens as they are a colourful dwarf mixture.

In their native habitat, Aquilegias are common throughout Europe and also in parts of China , India and Russia . They grow on rocky slopes, scree beds, woods and wild flower meadows, especially in the Alps . Native species are usually purplish blue or pink, occasionally reddish purple or white.

These are easy to grow plants for sun or semi-shade and the more flamboyant varieties look great in a container with smaller spring flowering perennials at the base. They are very happy to self-seed but tend to be a bit promiscuous! I like the seed heads afterwards which are attractive and sturdy, adding interest during the summer.

Some Aquilegia varieties to try:

Aquilegia ‘long-spurred hybrids'
This includes the McKana hybrids and are a collection of tall plants with flowers in paler shades with extra long spurs. Good for sunny sites but not dry soil and tend to be short lived. H 75cm

Aquilegia 'Nora Barlow'
A different flower head on this plant! A variant of A. vulgaris but flowers have lots of narrow petals in pale pink, green and red. It has been in cultivation since the 17th century when it was known as the ‘Rose Columbine'. H 70cm

Aquilegia ‘William Guinness'
This is one of my favourites; the flowers make dense clouds of puckered deepest blue, almost black and white flowers. There is also a double form. H 80cm

Aquilegia ‘Granny's Gold'
Purplish flowers held above distinctive golden foliage. H 60cm

Aquilegia ‘Biedermeier' hybrids
A dwarf mixture and flowers are held high above the foliage. ‘Crimson Star' has good-sized crimson and white bi-colour flowers. H 50cm