Aquilegia 'Songbird Mix'

Aquilegia 'Songbird Mix': A Chorus of Colour for the Spring Garden

Elegant and expressive, Aquilegia 'Songbird Mix' brings a symphony of jewel-toned blooms to the spring garden. A standout in the Songbird™ series, it features upright flowers in shades of violet, rose, pink, white, and blue—each with graceful long spurs and an airy, refined form. Blooming in mid- to late spring, the nectar-rich flowers hover above soft mounds of divided foliage, drawing in bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. With a slightly taller stature than compact columbines, it’s ideal for weaving through borders, underplanting shrubs, or adding rhythm to cottage and woodland-style plantings.

Plant Characteristics:

• Height: 50–60 cm, with upright flowering stems
• Spread: 30–40 cm, forming a loose, layered clump
• Flower Colour: Mixed shades of violet, pink, rose, blue, and white with long spurs
• Flowering Period: Mid- to late spring
• Foliage: Soft green, deeply lobed foliage with a delicate, airy texture
• Sunlight Requirements: Part shade; full sun in cool, moist conditions
• Soil Requirements: Moist, fertile, well-drained soil enriched with organic matter

Uses and Benefits: Aquilegia 'Songbird Mix' offers uplifting colour and gentle movement in lightly shaded borders and layered woodland designs. Its taller habit and varied palette bring spontaneity and visual interest to structured plantings. Ideal for naturalising along shrubs or mingling with other spring bloomers, it also supports pollinators during a key early-season window. Whether planted in groups or scattered throughout a mixed border, it adds grace and a touch of wildness to spring compositions.

Companion Plants: Pair with Hosta 'First Frost', whose frosty blue leaves edged in creamy yellow create a cool, grounding base. Add Athyrium niponicum for its shimmering silver fronds and subtle burgundy hues that echo the cooler notes of the mix. For a playful accent, weave in Pulmonaria 'Shrimps on the Barbie', whose coral-pink blooms and silver-dappled foliage add lightness and surprise. Together, they form a whimsical spring arrangement rich in texture, colour, and woodland charm.

Care Instructions: Plant in part shade in well-drained, compost-enriched soil. Water consistently during spring and early summer. Deadhead to prolong blooming or allow a few seedheads to ripen for gentle self-sowing. Cut back foliage in midsummer if it declines. Divide clumps every few years in spring to maintain vigour and shape.

History: The Songbird™ series was developed for upright flower carriage, classic spurred form, and improved garden performance. These hybrids honour the legacy of European and North American columbines, long treasured for their elegant blooms and natural charm. 'Songbird Mix' captures the spirit of the wild columbine while offering the colour range and reliability modern gardens demand.

Final Thoughts: With its bright chorus of colours and graceful posture, Aquilegia 'Songbird Mix' is a welcome voice in the spring garden. Paired with bold hostas, shimmering ferns, and playful pulmonarias, it creates a layered planting full of rhythm, movement, and seasonal melody. A joyful performer that resonates in every part-shade planting, it carries the essence of spring’s first song.