Columbine Aquilegia canadensis
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Columbine:
- Phonetic Spelling
- ah-kwih-LEE-jee-ah kan-ah-DEN-sis
- Description
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Columbine is a herbaceous perennial that may grow 3 feet tall. The leaves are alternate and deeply lobed or divided. The stem is smooth and multi-branched. Red, orange, and yellow flowers mature in early spring. The herb produces 5 parallel follicles with out curving tips that mature in the late summer to early fall.
Columbines tend to lose vitality after 3-4 years and are best replaced at that time. Plants should be set out in the garden in spring or late summer. Plant them one to two feet apart with the crown at soil level. Once established, feed them monthly with a soluble all purpose (5-10-5) fertilizer and keep them well watered during growing season.
The native columbine is perfect for shady gardens, where it is not nearly as disfigured by leaf miner as other species of columbine; attracts moths and butterflies; grows from a thin, woody rhizome.
Fire Risk: This plant has a medium flammability rating.
Insects, Diseases, or Other Plant Problems: This species has very good resistance to leaf miner which often causes severe damage to the foliage of many other columbine species and hybrids.
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Aquilegia
- Species:
- canadensis
- Family:
- Ranunculaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- North America
- Distribution:
- NC
- Fire Risk Rating:
- medium flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- The flowers are very attractive to hummingbirds and other pollinators. The seeds may be eaten by songbirds. Hummingbirds are the primary pollinators.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herb
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Wildflower
- Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- Usda Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3b, 3a, 4b, 4a, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8b, 8a
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Description:
- Displays in late summer.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Pink
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Description:
- The Columbine features drooping, spurred, bell-like, 1-2", red and yellow flowers (red sepals, yellow-limbed petals, 5 distinctive red spurs and a mass of bushy yellow stamens). Its spurs point upward. Blooms in early spring.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- The Columbines leaflets are oval with rounded lobes, basal and alternate on the stem with one to three times compound with three divisions each. They have slender, much-branched stems. Its delicate, biternate foliage is somewhat suggestive of meadow rue (Thalictrum) and remains attractive throughout the summer as long as soils are kept moist.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Naturalized Area
- Walkways
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Fairy Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Moths
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
