Ever had a young visitor who’s asked to see the fairies at the bottom of the garden? For next time, make sure you have Aquilegia chrysantha 'Chaplinei' (or Chaplin's Yellow Columbine) to show them! Little ones — or big kids of any age — will be delighted by the whimsical sight of these delicate flowers, peeping out of a shady nook! Bell shaped yellow petals dance on slender stems, with skirts in palest primrose, finished off with a froth of matching sepals. The long, elegant spurs flexing back from the petals give a truly ethereal look, and the whole fairytale effect is framed by feathery foliage in soft silvery green tones.

Aquilegia chrysantha 'Chaplinei' is at its elegant best in May, so those delicate hues will be very welcome in that tricky gap between the peak of the spring bulbs, and June’s riot of herbaceous colour and form. The light yellow shades have plenty of quaint cottage-garden charm, but the striking shape ofthose flowerheads means this variety could also hold its own against the stark and architectural lines of abold modern design – proving it’s worthy of a place in any planting scheme.