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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Eastern columbine is a native herbaceous perennial in the Ranunculaceae (buttercup) family. The genus name Aquilegia is derived from the Latin word for eagle as spurs at the back of the flower petals resemble an eagle’s claw.
Wild columbine prefers partial shade conditions but will tolerate more sun with adequate moisture. It prefers organically rich, moist soil like that in its native forest home. It may grow 3 feet tall by 1.5 feet wide. The red and yellow flowers mature in early spring and can last one month. These tubular flowers attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and bumblebees. Once the flowers are gone the plant makes an attractive ground cover. When the foliage deteriorates it can be cut to the ground. Columbine freely self seeds, and new plants will bloom the second year.
This plant was selected as the 1987 NC Wildflower of the Year, a program managed by the North Carolina Botanical Garden with some financial support from the Garden Club of North Carolina.
Use this plant in woodland habitats, naturalized areas, shady garden borders, native gardens, or pollinator gardens. It is deer resistant.
Quick ID Hints:
- Alternate leaves
- Leaves are deeply lobed
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Leaf miner is generally a problem for columbine, but this species is resistant.
VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Annuals, Perennials, Vines, and Groundcovers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Collector’s Garden Part Shade Garden, Durham County Davidson County Extension Demonstration Garden Durham County Extension Master Gardener℠ Demonstration Garden Native Woodland Garden, Durham
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- ‘Corbett’
Dwarf with yellow flowers - ‘Little Lanterns’
10" tall with blue-green foliage and red and yellow blooms - ‘Nana’
Yellow flowers - ‘Pink Lanterns’
Pink and white flowers
- ‘Corbett’
- ‘Corbett’, ‘Little Lanterns’, ‘Nana’, ‘Pink Lanterns’
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- ‘Corbett’
Dwarf with yellow flowers - ‘Little Lanterns’
10" tall with blue-green foliage and red and yellow blooms - ‘Nana’
Yellow flowers - ‘Pink Lanterns’
Pink and white flowers
- ‘Corbett’
- ‘Corbett’, ‘Little Lanterns’, ‘Nana’, ‘Pink Lanterns’
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Aquilegia
- Species:
- canadensis
- Family:
- Ranunculaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- North America
- Distribution:
- AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , TX , VA , VT , WI , WV Canada: MB , NB , NS , ON , QC , SK
- Fire Risk Rating:
- medium flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Provides nectar to bumblebees, butterflies, hummingbirds and other pollinators. The seeds may be eaten by songbirds. Deer resistant.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Deer and rabbit resistant, leaf miner
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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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 Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Follicle
- Fruit Description:
- 5 pod-shaped follicles with long beaks that split open along one side to release the shiny black seeds. Displays from April to August.
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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:
- 1-2 inch flowers appear singly or groups of 2-3, are drooping, spurred, and bell-like. Red and yellow flowers have 5 petals, 5 petal-like sepals, and strongly exerted stamens and styles. Its spurs point upward. Blooms from March to May.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Obovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves are ternately compound (divided into groups of 3 leaflets). Each leaflet is up to 3" long and 2" across. Leaflets are oval with deep rounded lobes, basal and alternate on the stem.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- stems are green to reddish-green and may or may not have hairs
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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
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
