A. formosa can't seem to get a grip here, but I keep trying. Also A. formosa, A. caerulea, A.flabellata
I had such good luck in Poulsbo with various hybrid A. vulgaris, on sand, then here in Lake Stevens on beach sand, then when I moved here they became hard. I attributed it to my clay soil, then I found one almost defoliated, leaves skeletonized, I watched, this happened repeatedly, finally they gave up and died. I read about the Columbine Sawfly and it has made an appearance here, so maybe this is it.
Anyway, I have had good luck with A. chrysantha, both the species and 'Denver Gold, these become perennials, flowers are yellow. Also with A. alpina, a species with blue flowers. I have grown them from seeds I saved, planted out last summer and every one survived and looks fine now.
Could this be because they are seed grown? Or have the hybrids become less vigorous?
I am not sure. My sister used to garden up near Mt Baker, she had terrific A. vulgaris, they seeded about almost to the point of invasiveness. She had good soil, a more midwest climate (cold winters, hotter summers).
Anyway, for yellow, try A. crysantha and for blue try A. alpina
