Columbine

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

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 that rise to 3 feet tall on plants with ferny foliage. 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 from blue and white, red with yellow, pink, purple, and maroon bi-colors. They have a long season of bloom. Zones 3-9
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Melba Higgins columbine

(Aquilegia 'Melba Higgins') grows 24 to 30 inches tall and bears midnight blue flowers on blue green foliage in mid-spring. 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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Yellow columbine

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