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Aquilegia not opening fully

dom.hazeldom.hazel Posts: 5
in Problem solving
My purple and pink aquilegias are not fully opening still lovely and bright but pointing down rather than opening to a bright star. Is this the variety. I noticed this when visiting my Mum hers are all open? Where am I going wrong

Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited July 2020
    Hello @dom.hazel and welcome to the forum
    😊 

    The more traditional aquilegias (known as Granny’s Bonnets) usually have nodding downwards pointing flowers. New ones have been developed that smile up at you, but I have to admit I prefer the elegant nodding blooms of the traditional varieties  <3

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • BenCottoBenCotto Posts: 4,718
    A photo would help (click on the button that looks like a postcard showing a mountain). My aquilegia have long since gone over so are we talking about a modern variety that flowers later? Or is it perhaps agapanthus as I see there is a pink tinged one. I have verbascum and verbena growing side by side and I always muddle them up.
    Rutland, England
  • dom.hazeldom.hazel Posts: 5

  • dom.hazeldom.hazel Posts: 5
    Here with pics of mine. They have just stopped blooming. I was also going to ask should I now cut them back? Do I removed the stems then foliage later? Thanks Hazel
  • pitter-patterpitter-patter Posts: 2,429
    They look perfectly normal and have flowered prolifically. You can cut the stems and the leaves, fresh leaves will soon grow. For starry flowers facing upwards have a look at clementine series.


  • dom.hazeldom.hazel Posts: 5
    So is it this species I have that have ones like nodding heads. I do like them but seeing my Mums one wow its magnificent deep magenta with yellow centre i think its named strawberry and cream. 
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Yours looks like Aquilegia alpina https://dorsetperennials.co.uk/product/aquilegia-alpina/

    if you click on that link you’ll find loads of information about those and about the other types of aquilegia. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • dom.hazeldom.hazel Posts: 5
    Thank you so much this is fab didn't know as they were here when we moved in. 🤩
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