Moana Nursery High Desert Plant Finder & Guide
perennial

Ruby Port Double Columbine

Aquilegia vulgaris 'Ruby Port'

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Ruby Port Double Columbine (Aquilegia vulgaris 'Ruby Port') at Moana Nursery

Ruby Port Double Columbine flowers

Ruby Port Double Columbine flowers

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Height:  30 inches

Spread:  18 inches

Sunlight:  full sun  partial shade  full shade 

Hardiness Zone:  2

Other Names:  Clematis-flowered Columbine

Description:

Beautiful wine-red double flowers on long, graceful stems, flowers are dahlia-like; foliage is also attractive as it emerges wine-tinged then eventually turns blue-green. Easy care and attracts Butterflies.

Ornamental Features

Ruby Port Double Columbine features dainty nodding ruby-red ball-shaped flowers at the ends of the stems from late spring to early summer. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its attractive ferny compound leaves emerge burgundy in spring, turning bluish-green in color throughout the season.

Landscape Attributes

Ruby Port Double Columbine is an herbaceous perennial with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other garden plants with less refined foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and should be cut back in late fall in preparation for winter. It is a good choice for attracting butterflies to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

  • Insects

Ruby Port Double Columbine is recommended for the following landscape applications;

  • Mass Planting
  • Rock/Alpine Gardens
  • Border Edging
  • General Garden Use
  • Groundcover
  • Naturalizing And Woodland Gardens
  • Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Ruby Port Double Columbine will grow to be about 24 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 18 inches. Its foliage tends to remain dense right to the ground, not requiring facer plants in front. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 5 years. As an herbaceous perennial, this plant will usually die back to the crown each winter, and will regrow from the base each spring. Be careful not to disturb the crown in late winter when it may not be readily seen!

This plant performs well in both full sun and full shade. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It may require supplemental watering during periods of drought or extended heat. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in both summer and winter to conserve soil moisture and protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.

Ruby Port Double Columbine is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. With its upright habit of growth, it is best suited for use as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.

 
 
Hardiness Zone Plant Height Minimum Sunlight
Characteristics
Massing  Rock  Edging  Garden  Groundcover  Naturalizing  Container 
Applications
Flowers  Foliage Color  Texture  Attracts Wildlife 
Ornamental Features