Aquilegia flabellata, commonly known as Fan Columbine, is a deciduous or semi-deciduous perennial herb native to cool, moist, alpine meadows and grassy slopes in East Asia, including Japan, China, Korea, and the Russian Far East. It typically grows to 20–30 centimeters (7.9–11.8 inches) in height and features slightly glaucous, fan-shaped, divided leaves that add texture to garden settings. During early summer, Fan Columbine produces nodding, bell-shaped flowers with pale blue, violet-blue, or lavender sepals and a contrasting ring of creamy-white, short spurred petals. The flowers are approximately 3 centimeters (1.2 inches) in width and are quite showy, attracting pollinators such as bees and hummingbirds.

Fan Columbine is valued for its compact growth habit and charming flowers, making it an excellent choice for alpine gardens, rockeries, and border fronts. It is also suitable for woodland gardens, where it can naturalize under the right conditions. The cultivars A. flabellata var. pumila and A. flabellata var. pumila f. alba are particularly esteemed for their dwarf stature and have been awarded the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit. For optimal growth, Fan Columbine prefers evenly moist, well-drained soil and can thrive in full sun to part shade. While generally low-maintenance, it can be susceptible to leaf miners and powdery mildew, and in some regions, it may self-seed and become somewhat invasive if not managed.CC BY-SA 4.0