Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Kirigami Rose & Pink Columbine: Hummingbird Color for Part Shade
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Kirigami™ Rose & Pink columbine opens large, upward-facing flowers with five dark rose sepals and long, slender rose spurs around a cup of lighter pink petals. Held on strong, upright stems about two feet tall, they float above a low mound of soft green, lobed leaves from late spring into early summer, and young plants flower in their first year.
Hummingbirds and bees visit often. Those long spurs hold nectar right where a hummingbird's beak can reach it.
Kirigami Rose & Pink at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Aquilegia caerulea Kirigami™ Rose & Pink |
| Flowers | Dark rose sepals and spurs, light pink centers, 2½ to 3 inches |
| Foliage | Soft green, lobed, in a basal mound |
| Size | 22 to 24 inches tall, 16 to 20 inches wide |
| Bloom | Mid to late May |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 4-9 |
| Light | Full sun to part shade |
| Wildlife | Great for hummingbirds and bees; moderately deer resistant |
Where it fits around lavender
Lavender wants hot sun and dry roots; columbine wants regular moisture and a break from afternoon heat. So this one goes nearby rather than in the lavender bed: the east side of the house, a cottage border under a light canopy, or a woodland edge where it can naturalize. It blooms in May, well before lavender, so a garden with both has rose and pink in spring and purple in summer. If you grow pink lavender cultivars, the rose tones make a pleasing echo across the yard.
Lay out both areas in the Companion Plant Planner.
Planting and care
- Moisture: regular water in well-drained soil. It does not like to dry out in spring.
- Shade: afternoon shade extends bloom and keeps foliage fresher in hot summers.
- Deadheading: remove spent flowers for a tidier plant, or leave some pods to self-sow.
- Fresh foliage: if leaves look tired or show leafminer trails after bloom, cut them back for a new flush.
- Airflow: space plants so humid weather does not bring on powdery mildew.
Containers and cut stems
At about two feet tall, Kirigami Rose & Pink makes a good spring centerpiece in a large container on a partly shaded patio. The flowers also last up to two weeks when cut. Pick stems with a few open flowers and several colored buds.
The 72-cell plug tray
This columbine is offered as a 72-cell plug tray, a smart way to plant a drift at a woodland edge or fill a cottage border. See the product page for current availability, or visit the Wholesale Hub.
Frequently asked questions
Will it bloom the first year?
Yes. Kirigami columbines flower the first year from young plants.
How long do columbines live?
They are often short-lived perennials. Allowing a few seedlings helps keep them in the garden, though seedlings may not match the parent exactly. Wet winter soil is the main cause of loss.
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