Earlybird™ Purple Blue Aquilegia

Earlybird™ Purple Blue Columbine is a compact hybrid columbine with purple-and-blue bicolor flowers and the short, controlled habit characteristic of the Earlybird series. Its upright flower stems rise from a tidy mound, making it useful near the front of a mixed border, along a woodland edge, or in a container. The breeder identifies this cultivar as PAS1258487. ### Size and season [PanAmerican Seed](https://www.panamseed.com/Products/005709017004348/aquilegia-earlybird-purple-blue/) lists a mature height of 9–11 inches and width of 8–10 inches, with a flowering season extending from early spring through summer. It is rated for USDA zones 3a–9b and may flower in its first year from seed. The series has a relatively brief 10–12 day flowering window when programmed for early-spring production; outdoor timing varies with climate. ### Siting and soil Plant in sun or partial sun in fertile soil that stays moist without becoming waterlogged ([PanAmerican Seed](https://www.panamseed.com/Products/005709017004348/aquilegia-earlybird-purple-blue/); [RHS Aquilegia guide](https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/aquilegia/growing-guide)). A little afternoon shade can help in hotter gardens. The small, mounded form fits tight spaces, but give plants enough room for air to move around the divided foliage. ## Maintenance Water during establishment and during prolonged dry periods. Remove spent flowers for a tidier plant or leave some seed heads to self-sow; seedlings from hybrids may differ from the named parent. Trim fading foliage after flowering to encourage fresh leaves.