Canary Columbine Aquilegia chrysantha
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- ah-kwih-LEE-jee-ah kris-ANTH-uh
- Description
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Golden Columbine is a herbaceous perennial in the Ranunculaceae family native to the western U.S.A. and Mexico. It is a spring bloomer with flowers that are good for cutting. It grows 2 - 3 ft. tall and wide. Each flower petal has a backward-pointing spur. The name comes from the Latin word for eagle in reference to the flower’s five spurs which resemble an eagle's talon. The specific epithet means with golden flowers and they have a slight fragrance. Propagation is done by seed as long as flowers are not deadheaded but will hybridize with other Columbines if grown too close together.
It grows in full sun to part shade. It tolerates a wide range of soils with good drainage. If planting in clay soils, add sand to help with the drainage but keep the ground moist to prolong the look of the foliage. When the foliage declines, cut the plant to the ground. It is resistant to damage from deer or rabbits. Cutting the flower stalks may encourage further blooming.
Plant in borders, rock gardens, cottage gardens, open shade gardens or naturalized areas. Also a good selection for a hummingbird garden.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Crown-rot can occur in poorly drained soils. This plant will not be very tolerant of the hot humid summer areas of the southeast. Consider growing Aquilegia canadensis instead. Spider mites and aphids may appear in hot and dry conditions. Plants may show stress and lose leaves when planted in too much sun in hot summer conditions. Foliage usually declines by mid-summer at which point it should be cut to the ground.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- ‘Yellow Queen’
Earned the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit
- ‘Yellow Queen’
- ‘Yellow Queen’
- Tags:






- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- ‘Yellow Queen’
Earned the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit
- ‘Yellow Queen’
- ‘Yellow Queen’
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Aquilegia
- Species:
- chrysantha
- Family:
- Ranunculaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Utah and Arizona to Mexico with a small population in Colorado
- Distribution:
- AZ, CO, NM, TX, UT
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts hummingbirds, butterflies and bees.
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Deer and rabbit resistant
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Semi-evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- 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:
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Follicle
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Fruit is a green to dark grey follicle
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Spike
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- The up to 3 inch long yellow flowers are held mostly erect and appear in spring with five pointed yellow sepals and five yellow petals with backward-pointing spurs. There are many yellow stamens in the center. Blooms April-Sept.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Semi-evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Obovate
- Palmatifid
- Leaf Margin:
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The semi-evergreen fern-like green leaves have three leaflets with three lobes. The leaflets are 1.5 inches long
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Small Space
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Cutting Garden
- Fairy Garden
- Rock Garden
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Hummingbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Heat
- Rabbits