Aquilegia Lime Sorbet (Columbine)

Rich with unique coloring, Aquilegia ‘Lime Sorbet’ (Columbine) is a particularly beautiful perennial with its fully double, spurless, greenish-white blooms opening in late spring to early summer from pale green buds, and delicately fading to white as they mature. Rising with natural grace above the ferny foliage of blue-green divided leaves, this luminous columbine is quite luminous and perfect for brightening a shady spot in the garden!

Rich with unique coloring, Aquilegia 'Lime Sorbet' (Columbine) is a particularly beautiful perennial with its fully double, spurless, greenish-white blooms opening in late spring to early summer from pale green buds, and delicately fading to white as they mature. Rising with natural grace above the ferny foliage of blue-green divided leaves, this luminous columbine is quite luminous and perfect for brightening a shady spot in the garden!

  • Grows in a bushy, upright clump up to 24-36 in. high (60-90 cm) and 12 in. wide (30 cm). This perennial is generally short-lived but will self-seed prolifically to form large colonies in satisfactory growing conditions.
  • Performs best in full sun to part shade, in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils. Seriously dislikes poorly drained soils! Rich, moist soils in part shade are preferred. Do not let the soil dry out.
  • Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies, but is ignored by rabbits and deer!
  • Easy to grow, this plant is a welcomed addition to beds, borders, cottage gardensshade gardens, or naturalized areas. Excellent cut flowers lasting up to 2 weeks in a vase!
  • Subject to fungal diseases, borers, leaf miners, and aphids.
  • Deadhead regularly to promote more blooms.
  • Cut back foliage after flowering to promote fresh growth in late summer.
  • May be grown from seed sown directly in the garden in spring (after the danger of frost has passed). Division is possible in spring, but it may take some time for the plant to recover.
  • Remove faded flowering stems to promote additional bloom. Cut to the ground when the foliage declines (around midsummer).

Requirements

Hardiness 3
– 8

Heat Zones 1
– 8

Climate Zones 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, A2, A3
Plant Type Perennials
Plant Family Aquilegia
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Late)Summer (Early)
Height 2'
– 3'
(60cm
– 90cm)
Spread 1'
– 2'
(30cm
– 60cm)
Spacing 15″
– 20″
(37cm
– 50cm)
Water Needs Average
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained
Characteristics Cut Flowers, Showy
Tolerance Deer, Rabbit
Attracts Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Garden Uses Beds and Borders
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage