Winky Purple & White Columbine

Light Needs

Partial Shade to Full Sun

(At Least 3 Hours of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

1 Foot

Mature Spread

1 Foot

Growing Zones

4 to 8

Columbine is a staple in the spring garden. They attract pollinators with their bonnet shaped blooms. Winky Purple and white Columbine is an extremely compact version of the old time favorite. This herbaceous perennial may be shorter than other varieties, but it easily blooms twices as heavily. The shorter height is ideal to plant in containers as a filler or in groups at the front of a garden bed. The dark purple, spurred sepals surround a delicately white edged purple flower with yellow stamens. The dark purple color makes a good foil to lime colored foliage and flowers or mixes with other jewel toned flowers to give impact to a spring planted container.

Winky Purple and White is a mildew resistant variety of Columbine. The lobed leaves will stay fresh looking long after the blooms finish. Deer usually leave Columbine alone in the garden. They will be even more protected when planted in a container near the house. The masses of blooms make long lasting cut flowers and also attract bees, butterflies and Hummingbirds.

Winky Purple and White Columbine Care

Although Winky Purple and White Columbine has a wide range of hardiness zones, it may be treated more as a short lived perennial in the coldest of zones. A thick mulch of leaves or organic compost in the fall will help keep the plant crown protected from snow and extreme cold. Columbine likes slightly neutral to alkaline soil with a pH of 6.5-8.0. A well drained, average soil in a sunny to partial shade site is suitable.

Fertilizing is best done very early in the spring as the new growth emerges. A slow release, well balanced food will keep the flower buds forming. Deadheading of spent blooms will help to keep Columbine blooming longer in the spring. This is especially important when planted in a container. When the leaves begin to die down in midsummer is the best time to cut back for the fall and mulch.

Winky Purple and White Columbine Spacing

Proper spacing of Winky Purple and White Columbine will ensure that pests and diseases have less of a chance to be an issue. Planting at a space of 12 inches on center will provide adequate air circulation.