Columbine

Perfect for cottage and woodland gardens, old-fashioned columbines are available in almost all colors of the rainbow. Intricate little flowers, they are most commonly a combination of red, peach, and yellow but also blues, whites, pure yellows, and pinks; they look almost like folded paper lanterns.

Columbine thrives in sun or partial shade in moist, well-drained soil. Plants tend to be short-lived but self-seed readily, often creating natural hybrids with other nearby columbines. If you want to prevent self-seeding, deadhead plants after bloom.

Light:

Sun,Part Sun

Zones:

3-9

Plant Type:

Perennial

Plant Height:

1-4 feet tall

Plant Width:

1-2 feet wide

Flower Color:

Nearly every color of flower possible except true orange, many with contrasting central petal colors

Bloom Time:

Blooms spring and summer, depending on variety

Landscape Uses:

Containers,Beds & Borders

Special Features:

Flowers,Cut Flowers,Attracts Hummingbirds,Attracts Butterflies,Deer Resistant,Easy to Grow

Top Varieties

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'Blue Barlow' columbine

Aquilegia vulgaris 'Blue Barlow' has interesting, shaggy-looking double flowers that dangle over finely divided foliage. Zones 3-8
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Canadian columbine

Aquilegia canadensis bears red-and-yellow nodding blooms. It has ferny foliage and grows 3 feet tall. Zones 3-8
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Fan columbine

Aquilegia flabellata is a dwarf type that grows to only a foot tall with flowers rising several inches above the fan-shape blue-green foliage. Flower color ranges from sky blue to almost purple. Zones 4-9
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'McKana' columbine

Aquilegia McKana Hybrids is a strain of large plants with a broad range of flower colors -- blue and white, red with yellow, pink, purple, and maroon bicolors. They have a long season of bloom. Zones 3-9
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'Melba Higgins' columbine

Aquilegia 'Melba Higgins' grows 24-30 inches tall and bears midnight blue flowers on blue-green foliage in midspring. Zones 4-8
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Rocky mountain columbine

Aquilegia caerulea, the state flower of Colorado, is native throughout much of the Rocky Mountain West. Its spurred blossoms are most commonly blue-and-white, although a pink-and-yellow variant is also available. Zones 3-8
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'Spring Magic Navy and White' columbine

Aquilegia 'Spring Magic Navy and White' produces bold blue-and-white flowers on a compact 14-inch-tall plant. Zones 4-8
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'William Guiness' columbine

Aquilegia vulgaris 'William Guiness' shows off bold flowers that feature white centers and dark burgundy-purple spurs. It grows 3 feet tall. Zones 3-8
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Yellow columbine

Aquilegia chrysantha is native to the Rocky Mountains of New Mexico and bears yellow flowers in spring over lovely bluish-green foliage. It prefers light to moderate shade. Zones 3-8
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Garden Plans

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Beautiful Butterflies Garden Plan
Heirloom Garden Plan
Cold-Climate Shade Garden Plan
Island Bed 2
Easy Street-Side Garden Plan
Bold and Bright Foundation Garden Plan

Plant It With

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Phlox

Purplish-blue woodland phlox makes a perfect companion for columbine in a shady border. Both appreciate light to moderate shade and bloom mid- to late spring.

Toad lily

Toad lily takes up the slack in the shady border after columbine finishes its springtime show. Its orchid-like blooms grace the fall garden.

Foamflower

The frothy flower spikes of foamflower look great paired with the bluish-green foliage of columbine. Because it is a low grower, place foamflower in front of the columbine.

Propagation

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Seed