The Main Plant entry for Columbines (Aquilegia)

This database entry exists to show plant data and photos that apply generically to all Columbines.

General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit:	Herb/Forb
Life cycle:	Perennial
Sun Requirements:	Full Sun to Partial Shade
Flowers:	Showy
Flower Time:	Spring Late spring or early summer
Uses:	Cut Flower Will Naturalize
Wildlife Attractant:	Bees Hummingbirds
Propagation: Seeds:	Provide light Suitable for wintersowing Sow in situ Can handle transplanting
Containers:	Suitable in 3 gallon or larger

Common names

Columbine

Photo Gallery

Location: The Black Hills, SD
Date: 6/11/2022

Uploaded by Johannian

Location: Botanical Gardens of the State of Georgia...Athens, Ga
Date: 2018-04-20
White Columbine 001

Uploaded by dawiz1753

Location: Granite Falls, WA
Date: 2013-06-16

Uploaded by SherriRaye

Uploaded by Fleur569

Location: Bochum, Germany
Date: 2019-05-05

Uploaded by celtica

Location: Beautiful Tennessee, my garden
Date: 2019-04-19

Uploaded by chickhill

Uploaded by mcash70

Uploaded by HollyAnnS

Uploaded by Fleur569

Location: My front garden in Welland, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada
Date: 2015-05-27
Up Close For Detail

Uploaded by jenniferatemple

Uploaded by Johannian

Uploaded by celtica

Uploaded by Fieldsof_flowers

Location: My Gardens
Date: Spring 2007
Close Up View

Uploaded by TBGDN

Photo courtesy of Annie's Annuals and Perennials

Uploaded by Calif_Sue

Uploaded by Johannian

Location: all photos from my gardens
Date: 2019-04-08

Uploaded by pinkiris

Location: My Gardens
Date: May 5, 2010
Close Up View

Uploaded by TBGDN

Location: In my garden, Falls Church, VA
Date: 2018-05-11

Uploaded by Frenchy21

Location: Plano, TX
Date: 2018-03-25
Grown from seed

Uploaded by TexasPlumeria87

Uploaded by pinkiris

Location: Eagle Bay, New York
Date: 2024-05-29
Columbines (Aquilegia) buds and bloom

Uploaded by adknative

Location: In my Northern California garden
Date: 2010-04-16

Uploaded by zuzu

Location: charlottetown, pei, canada
Date: 2011-06-25
Columbines-pink

Uploaded by roseman2000

Uploaded by Johannian

Uploaded by Garden_Girl

Location: Bochum, Germany
Date: 2016-05-26

Uploaded by celtica

Uploaded by celtica

Uploaded by GoTilly

Location: Botanical Garden Meise (Belgium)
Date: 2017-07-17

Uploaded by RuuddeBlock

Location: My zone 3a garden
Date: 2010-06-30

Uploaded by mcash70

Location: Illinois, US
Date: 2013-05-30
Columbine NOID

Uploaded by molanic

Uploaded by molanic

Location: My front garden in Welland, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada
Date: 2015-03-21
Close Up with Golden Pollen Visible

Uploaded by jenniferatemple

Location: In my garden, Falls Church, VA
Date: 2018-05-07

Uploaded by Frenchy21

Uploaded by carlysuko

Uploaded by pinkiris

Location: Enterprise, Al. 36330
Date: 2014-04-30

Uploaded by Seedfork

Location: Granite Falls, WA
Date: 2017-06-01

Uploaded by SherriRaye

Location: Botanical Gardens of the State of Georgia...Athens, Ga
Date: 2022-05-10
White Columbine 008

Uploaded by dawiz1753

Uploaded by bootandall

Uploaded by celtica

Location: Illinois, US
Date: 2017-05-17
Columbine NOID

Uploaded by molanic

Uploaded by molanic

Location: Botanical Gardens of the State of Georgia...Athens, Ga
Date: 2022-04-12
Pink and White Columbine 001

Uploaded by dawiz1753

Uploaded by joannakat

Location: Botanical Gardens of the State of Georgia...Athens, Ga
Date: 2022-04-21
Red Columbine 005

Uploaded by dawiz1753

Uploaded by bumplbea

Uploaded by Calif_Sue

Location: In my garden, Falls Church, VA
Date: 2018-05-05
Columbine has pink blooms

Uploaded by Frenchy21

Location: Ingleside. Illinois
Date: 2023-05-21

Uploaded by antsinmypants

Location: The Natural State (Arkansas)
Date: 2020-04-12

Uploaded by codielane

Uploaded by pinkiris

Uploaded by TBGDN

Location: Hamilton Square perennial garden Historic City Cemetery, Sacramento CA.
Date: 2014-04-09

Uploaded by HamiltonSquare

Date: 2010-06-03
Photo courtesy of: Colin-47

Uploaded by admin

Location: Chinese Gardens, Darling Harbour, N.S.W., Australia
Date: 2014-10-24

Uploaded by carolem

Location: Botanical Gardens of the State of Georgia...Athens, Ga
Date: 2018-05-07
Purple Columbine 008

Uploaded by dawiz1753

Uploaded by pinkiris

Location: Ingleside. Illinois
Date: 2024-06-03

Uploaded by antsinmypants

Uploaded by Seedfork

Location: Botanical Gardens of the State of Georgia...Athens, Ga
Date: 2018-04-21
White And Yellow Columbine 002

Uploaded by dawiz1753

Location: Ingleside. Illinois
Date: 2022-05-18

Uploaded by antsinmypants

Uploaded by Paul2032

Location: My Gardens
Date: May 16, 2010
General View

Uploaded by TBGDN

Uploaded by stilldew

Uploaded by bumplbea

Location: My Gardens
Date: May 7, 2010
Very Close View

Uploaded by TBGDN

Uploaded by TBGDN

Uploaded by TBGDN

Uploaded by TBGDN

Location: My Gardens
Date: May 5, 2010
Very Close View

Uploaded by TBGDN

Uploaded by celtica

Location: My Gardens
Date: May 21, 2014
Seedlings In Garden Setting

Uploaded by TBGDN

Uploaded by celtica

Location: Bochum, Germany
Date: 2016-05-19

Uploaded by celtica

Location: Illinois, US
Date: 2011-05-24
Columbine NOID

Uploaded by molanic

Location: In my garden in Kalama, Wa.
Date: 2008-06-11

Uploaded by Joy

Location: Athol, MA
Date: 2018-06-16
Growing wild in the woods in North-central MA

Uploaded by joannakat

Location: Virginia Beach, VA
Date: 2006-05-10

Uploaded by GardensJohn

Uploaded by Calif_Sue

Location: From my collection. Poland.
Date: 2022-06-05

Uploaded by Orsola

Uploaded by Orsola

Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Date: Spring 2007
Unknown columbine

Uploaded by kqcrna

Uploaded by RoseA32

Uploaded by bootandall

Uploaded by antsinmypants

Uploaded by TBGDN

Uploaded by TBGDN

Location: Bochum, Germany
Date: 2020-05-01

Uploaded by celtica

Location: Enterprise, Al. 36330
Date: 2014-04-19

Uploaded by Seedfork

Uploaded by sedumzz

Uploaded by gemini_sage

Location: central Illinois
Date: 2015-05-15

Uploaded by jmorth

Uploaded by antsinmypants

Uploaded by 4susiesjoy

Location: My Gardens
Date: May 16, 2010
General View Half Of Plant

Uploaded by TBGDN

Location: New Zealand
Date: 2017-10-27
Hoping to identify variety of columbine

Uploaded by Awhi

Location: Botanical Gardens of the State of Georgia...Athens, Ga
Date: 2022-05-10
Yellow Columbine 006

Uploaded by dawiz1753

Location: My Gardens
Date: May 16, 2010
Very Close View

Uploaded by TBGDN

Uploaded by TBGDN

Uploaded by celtica

Uploaded by celtica

Location: My Northeastern Indiana Gardens - Zone 5b
Date: 2012-05-07

Uploaded by chelle

Uploaded by celtica

Uploaded by Michelezie

Location: My zone 3a garden
Date: 2012-07-12

Uploaded by mcash70

Uploaded by aleema

Location: My North Yorkshire Garden
Date: 2020-05-09

Uploaded by Yorkshirelass

Uploaded by Yorkshirelass

Uploaded by Paul2032

Location: Botanical Gardens of the State of Georgia...Athens, Ga
Date: 2018-05-04
Purple Columbine 003

Uploaded by dawiz1753

Location: Botanical Gardens of the State of Georgia...Athens, Ga
Date: 2022-04-21
White Columbine 011

Uploaded by dawiz1753

Uploaded by GardensJohn

Location: Granite Falls, WA
Date: 2018-05-16

Uploaded by SherriRaye

Location: Suburban Denver, Colorado
Date: 2013-05-18

Uploaded by CDsSister

Uploaded by sedumzz

Location: Botanical Gardens of the State of Georgia...Athens, Ga
Date: 2018-05-02
Dewdrop Covered Columbine 009

Uploaded by dawiz1753

Location: Bochum, Germany
Date: 2024-05-01

Uploaded by celtica

Location: Bochum, Germany
Date: 2020-05-14

Uploaded by celtica

Uploaded by celtica

Uploaded by Seedfork

Location: Botanical Gardens of the State of Georgia...Athens, Ga
Date: 2022-04-26
Blue And Purple Columbine 001

Uploaded by dawiz1753

Uploaded by Paul2032

Location: Botanical Gardens of the State of Georgia...Athens, Ga
Date: 2018-04-11
Columbine 002

Uploaded by dawiz1753

Uploaded by fixpix

Uploaded by fixpix

Location: Botanical Gardens of the State of Georgia...Athens, Ga
Date: 2022-04-21
Columbine 011

Uploaded by dawiz1753

Location: Botanical Gardens of the State of Georgia...Athens, Ga
Date: 2022-04-21
Columbine 013

Uploaded by dawiz1753

Location: Indiana Zone 5
Date: 2009-05-23
old fashioned

Uploaded by gardengus

Uploaded by gemini_sage

Location: Botanical Gardens of the State of Georgia...Athens, Ga
Date: 2022-05-10
Pink Columbine 002

Uploaded by dawiz1753

Location: Botanical Gardens of the State of Georgia...Athens, Ga
Date: 2022-05-10
White Columbine 009

Uploaded by dawiz1753

Uploaded by stilldew

Uploaded by TBGDN

Uploaded by stilldew

Location: Indiana Zone 5
Date: 2012-05-08

Uploaded by gardengus

Location: My zone 3a garden
Date: 2012-07-05

Uploaded by mcash70

Uploaded by aleema

Uploaded by robertduval14

Location: Illinois, US
Date: 2010-05-07
Columbine NOID

Uploaded by molanic

Uploaded by TexasPlumeria87

Uploaded by pdermer1x

Location: The Natural State (Arkansas)
Date: 2020-03-04

Uploaded by codielane

Uploaded by Joy

Uploaded by Michelezie

Location: Long Island, NY
Date: 2013-06-06

Uploaded by Newyorkrita

Location: Long Island, NY
Date: 2013-05-20

Uploaded by Newyorkrita

Location: Bronx NY
Date: 2018-04-26
Just starting to get some color.

Uploaded by bxncbx

Location: central Illinois
Date: 5-19-19

Uploaded by jmorth

Uploaded by jmorth

Location: in Zuzu's garden
Date: 2017-05-11

Uploaded by Calif_Sue

Location: My garden in Gent, Belgium
Date: 2010-04-27

Uploaded by bonitin

Uploaded by bxncbx

Uploaded by Paul2032

Uploaded by gardengus

Uploaded by PAgirl63

Uploaded by Michelezie

Uploaded by celtica

Location: Taken at Annie's Annuals Nursery
Date: 2014-05-08

Uploaded by Calif_Sue

Uploaded by Seedfork

Location: CZ Sirem My garden
Date: 4000-06-27

Uploaded by admin

Uploaded by carolem

Location: central Illinois
Date: 2015-08-29

Uploaded by jmorth

Location: Botanical Gardens of the State of Georgia...Athens, Ga
Date: 2018-05-07
Purple Columbine 010

Uploaded by dawiz1753

Uploaded by antsinmypants

Location: Longwood Gardens Conservatory, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania USA
Date: 2018-03-06

Uploaded by csandt

Uploaded by Paul2032

Location: Botanical Gardens of the State of Georgia...Athens, Ga
Date: 2018-04-13
Columbine 003

Uploaded by dawiz1753

Uploaded by Paul2032

Uploaded by Paul2032

Uploaded by Paul2032

Uploaded by Paul2032

Uploaded by TexasPlumeria87

Location: Indiana Zone 5
Date: 2009-05-20
Tall long spurred

Uploaded by gardengus

Uploaded by stilldew

Location: In my garden in Kalama, Wa.
Date: 2008-05-21

Uploaded by Joy

Uploaded by gardengus

Location: Seedling in my garden
Date: 2018-04-01

Uploaded by Calif_Sue

Uploaded by gardengus

Uploaded by mandolls

Uploaded by robertduval14

Location: Long Island, NY
Date: 2013-05-31

Uploaded by Newyorkrita

Uploaded by mcash70

Location: Illinois, US
Date: 2017-05-12
Columbine NOID

Uploaded by molanic

Uploaded by stilldew

Uploaded by Michelezie

Uploaded by Newyorkrita

Uploaded by bootandall

Location: Ingleside. Illinois
Date: 2022-04-29

Uploaded by antsinmypants

Location: Indiana Zone 5
Date: 2012-07-26
leaf miner damage

Uploaded by gardengus

Location: Enterprise, Al. 36330
Date: 2015-05-09

Uploaded by Seedfork

Uploaded by Paul2032

Uploaded by Paul2032

Location: Botanical Gardens of the State of Georgia...Athens, Ga
Date: 2022-04-21
Columbine Garden 001

Uploaded by dawiz1753

Location: my garden, Gent, Belgium
Date: 2011-04-25

Uploaded by bonitin

Uploaded by stilldew

Location: my garden, Zone 7A, NC
Date: 2011-10-31
From seeds sown last Spring in situ.

Uploaded by sandnsea2

Uploaded by Paul2032

Uploaded by celtica

Uploaded by celtica

Location: CZ Sirem My garden
Date: 2015-05-14

Uploaded by admin

Uploaded by admin

Uploaded by Paul2032

Uploaded by sedumzz

Location: Botanical Gardens of the State of Georgia...Athens, Ga
Date: 2018-04-21
White Columbine 007

Uploaded by dawiz1753

Location: Botanical Gardens of the State of Georgia...Athens, Ga
Date: 2018-04-21
White Columbine 006

Uploaded by dawiz1753

Location: Botanical Gardens of the State of Georgia...Athens, Ga
Date: 2018-04-21
White And Yellow Columbine 003

Uploaded by dawiz1753

Uploaded by Paul2032

Location: central Illinois
Date: 2016-05-04

Uploaded by jmorth

Location: Botanical Gardens of the State of Georgia...Athens, Ga
Date: 2018-04-21
White And Yellow Columbine 001

Uploaded by dawiz1753

Uploaded by Paul2032

Uploaded by Versicolor

Location: central Illinois
Date: 2015-02-20

Uploaded by jmorth

Location: My studio in Welland, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada
Date: 2015-09-11
Seeds and bloom inset

Uploaded by jenniferatemple

Uploaded by LindaTX8

Uploaded by gardengus

Uploaded by robertduval14

Uploaded by stilldew

Location: Cascade of Time Garden, Banff, Canada | August, 2022
Date: 2022-08-01
thick, waxy leaves! Cute

Uploaded by sedumzz

Uploaded by stilldew

Location: In my garden in Kalama, Wa.
Date: 2006-05-13

Uploaded by Joy

Location: West Valley City, UT
Cross of 'Black Barlow' and 'Winky Double Red and White.'

Uploaded by Zencat

Location: FPF Home, Warren County, Kentucky
Date: 2022-06-12
Gifted to me by a friend, from her plants. 06.12.22

Uploaded by FPF

Uploaded by mandolls

Uploaded by sedumzz

Uploaded by Paul2032

Location: Blaine TN
Date: 2018-04-26
Ready to "pop"

Uploaded by pdermer1x

Uploaded by Paul2032

Location: My garden in Gent, Belgium
Date: 2010-05-04

Uploaded by bonitin

Location: Banff, Canada | August, 2022
Date: 2022-08-07

Uploaded by sedumzz

Location: Jasper, Canada | August, 2022
Date: 2022-08-07

Uploaded by sedumzz

Location: Eagle Bay, New York
Date: 2021-06-05
Columbines (Aquilegia) - native wild

Uploaded by adknative

This plant is tagged in:

Comments:

Posted by gardengus (Indiana Zone 5b) on Nov 22, 2011 7:35 PM concerning plant:

These are one of my all time favorite perennials. They often self sow and cross, so I have a large variety of colors and sizes. Seed can be winter sown and needs light to germinate. Transplanting should be done when plants are small for much better success rate. Large plants have deep tap roots. They are short lived, so best to allow some seedlings to mature to give a good show in the garden.

Reply to this comment
Posted by Bonehead (Planet Earth - Zone 8b) on Sep 24, 2015 9:21 AM concerning plant:

Columbines are my favorite early spring flower, but are short lived for me. I might get two good seasons from a plant, then they lose vigor and either come back very small with few flowers, or reseed themselves as 'granny bonnets' - plain-jane short spurred light purple. My solution is to simply add several healthy new plants every year and enjoy the rotating show.

Reply to this comment
Posted by Marilyn (Kentucky - Zone 6a) on May 20, 2013 3:40 AM concerning plant:

Taken from wikipedia's page at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A...

"Columbine is a hardy perennial, which propagates by seed. It will grow to a height of 15 to 20 inches. It will grow in full sun; however, it prefers growing in partial shade and well drained soil, and is able to tolerate average soils and dry soil conditions. Columbine is rated at hardiness zone 3 in the USA so does not require mulching or protection in the winter.

Large numbers of hybrids are available for the garden, since the British A. vulgaris was joined by other European and North American varieties. Aquilegia species are very interfertile, and will self-sow. Some varieties are short-lived so are better treated as biennials.

They are used as food plants by some Lepidoptera (butterfly and moth) caterpillars. These are mainly of noctuid moths – noted for feeding on many poisonous plants without harm – such as Cabbage Moth (Mamestra brassicae), Dot Moth (Melanchra persicariae) and Mouse Moth (Amphipyra tragopoginis). The Engrailed (Ectropis crepuscularia), a geometer moth, also uses columbine as a larval foodplant."

Reply to this comment
Posted by KFredenburg (Black Hills, SD - Zone 5a) on Jun 6, 2020 12:33 PM concerning plant:

These are graceful plants with attractive ferny foliage and yellow, blue, red, white or bicolored flowers. Long narrow spurs extend backward from the flower.
For best results (if planting more than one of these plants), space each one at least 1 and a half feet apart from each other.
Landscape uses:
American columbine and fan columbine are appealing plants for a rock garden r the front of a flower border. Use the taller forms in the middle of a border, where they will bloom for several weeks. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Columbines have abundant nectar and attract hummingbirds.

Reply to this comment
Posted by Newyorkrita (North Shore, Long Island, NY ) on Sep 22, 2013 3:25 PM concerning plant:

Columbines remind me of spring meadows. Fortunately, we can have these meadow flowers in our gardens. Often the individual plants don't last long, dying out after a few years. Usually seedlings have popped up to replace the missing plants.

Reply to this comment

Plant Events from our members
piksihk	On January 1, 2024	Seeds sown Seeds from CO
piksihk	On December 14, 2019	Seeds sown mix frt bed/pecan tree (bet. azaleas)
piksihk	On February 2, 2018	Seeds sown Blue, violet, red, Korean pack
piksihk	On November 13, 2017	Seeds sown Korean seeds,
piksihk	On January 6, 2015	Seeds sown seeds from Korea
piksihk	On December 27, 2014	Seeds sown Yasso F. and red columbine
piksihk	On June 21, 2014	Plant Ended (Removed, Died, Discarded, etc)
dragonfetti	On January 12, 2015	Obtained plant WM; .20 per pack; one pack; Barlow's Doubles Mix.
SCButtercup	On March 30, 2017	Bloomed
SCButtercup	On March 15, 2016	Bloomed
lovesblooms	On February 9, 2017	Seeds sown w/s labeled "columbine mix"
MrsBinWY	On September 7, 2019	Plant Ended (Removed, Died, Discarded, etc) Plants were fine but nothing spectacular. Removed them to make way for something more desirable.
MrsBinWY	On May 25, 2018	Transplanted On 5-25-2018, planted 8 in the back side yard.
MrsBinWY	On November 25, 2017	Seeds sown Experiment: Eight (8) 2.25" pots in garden hoop, seeds from Desirai (GW) ~2015. Zero germination.
MrsBinWY	On November 25, 2017	Seeds sown Experiment: Eight (8) 2.25" pots in garden hoop, seeds from 25th & House 2017. All 8 pots germinated & grew well. Will find a place in the yard for them.
antsinmypants	On June 1, 2023	Transplanted Pink one from Bethtrees into shade garden by the pond.
antsinmypants	On May 13, 2022	Transplanted Pink & Yellow Bi-color into sun garden 2.
GardensJohn	On April 10, 2021	Obtained plant I love Columbines. Tried growing some about twenty years ago when we moved to Virginia from Colorado. They lived about two years, but never seeded themselves. This year I decided to try again. Planted them in a more shady location in my garden this time hoping they will do better.

» Post your own event for this plant

Discussion Threads about this plant

Thread Title	Last Reply	Replies
Beautiful! by plantladylin	Nov 8, 2012 7:36 PM	13
This aquilegia appears to be a hybrid, not Aquilegia flavescens by growitall	Jan 11, 2014 12:18 PM	0
Not Aquilegia skinneri by growitall	Mar 26, 2014 11:25 PM	1
Not Aquilegia saximontana by growitall	Mar 28, 2014 7:12 PM	0
Not Aquilegia saximontana by growitall	Apr 8, 2014 5:08 PM	1
Pretty columbine but not representative of 'Blue Barlow' by growitall	Apr 12, 2014 6:10 PM	1
Untitled by growitall	May 9, 2014 7:27 PM	2
A possible hybrid thereof, but not Aquilegia chrysantha by growitall	Nov 4, 2014 9:26 PM	1

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