columbine

Aquilegia vulgaris var. stellata plena 'Ruby Port'

Columbine or Granny's Bonnet is a traditional English cottage garden plant. It is best known for its flowers, which are long lasting and lovely, but we grow it for its foliage. The glaucous scalloped leaves are extremely decorative and look fresh from early spring through late fall.

Very easy to grow. Prefers humus rich soil in light shade, but it is not overly particular. Deer and rabbit resistant.

'Ruby Port' is an heirloom dating back to the 1600s. It has beautiful dark wine colored double flowers with short spurs.

Note: These are promiscuous plants that will mix and mingle if not grown in relative isolation.

WARNING: mildly poisonous to livestock. Contact with sap may cause dermatitis.

Zones: 3 to 8
Family: Ranunculaceae
Type: Perennial
Height: 24 to 36 in.
Spread: 12 to 24 in
Exposure: Full sun, part-shade
Soil Conditions: well-drained, average
Bloom Time: May to July
Bloom Color: Dark Ruby
Native Range: Western, Central and Southern Europe

Special Characteristics

Deer-resistant
Clay tolerant
Pollinator favorite
Short-lived

image credits

Photo by David J. Stang, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Regular price: $8.99
Regular price
Sale price: $8.99

Shipping calculated at checkout.

4" pot

ships spring 2025

Ordering information

Preorders

You may place your order anytime to reserve plants for spring 2025 shipment. If you place multiple orders, we will combine plants into one box (or as many as needed) and any extra shipping charges will be refunded when we ship.

We will begin shipping plants as soon as plants begin to emerge from dormancy in spring. Woodies will likely begin shipping in April. Perennials will likely begin shipping in May. If ordering multiple varieties, we will hold until all plants are ready to ship together. If you would like to receive plants sooner please reach out.

We will check in with you a week before shipping to make sure you receive your plants at a time that is convenient for you.

Shipping

Live plants ship in spring and fall only. Plants may ship dormant, depending on variety and season. Shipping costs are most reasonable when bundling like size plants.

4-inch: 1-6 plants ship for $15.00 / 7-13 plants ship for $18.00 / 14-30 plants ship for $40.00
1-gal: 1-2 plants ship for $18.00 / 3-4 plants ship for $25.00 / 5-6 plants ship for $40.00
trees & shrubs: $27.00-$40.00 each, height dependent

We regret that we cannot ship internationally or to the following states: AK, AZ, CA, CO, FL, HI, ID, MT, NV, OR, UT, or WA.

Nursery pick up

Plants can be collected from the nursery Monday through Sunday from 10am-4pm in Spring, Summer, and Fall. We prefer 24 hour notice to get your order together and will email you when ready for collection.

If you place a SPRING 2025 PREORDER, we will contact you in spring when your plants are ready for collection. Woodies will likely become available for collection in April. Perennials will likely become available in May. If ordering multiple varieties, we will hold until all plants are ready to be collected together.

Plant Sizes

We most commonly use the following pot sizes for perennials:

4-inch pot: 3.5" H x 3.5" W x 3.5" D
2-quart pot: 6" H x 5.25" W x 5.25" D
1-gallon pot: 6.87" H x 8" Dia (this is a true one gallon pot, not the smaller 'trade' one gallon pot used by many nurseries)

Check out our illustrated pot size guide here.

Representative trees & shrubs are photographed in their pots and posted on each plant page.

Sustainability

Sustainability is at the heart of what we do at The Old Dairy. We grow all of our plants outdoors without the use of chemicals, fertilizers, carbon fuels, or peat.

Many of our perennials are grown in the ground and dug upon order (this is especially true for larger sizes). This practice allows us to grow stronger, healthier plants using native soil, and ultimately reduces our impact on the environment.

Our open-pollinated seeds are collected from plants in our mother beds, which have never been treated with chemicals or sprays of any kind.

Read all about our sustainable practices here.