Columbine Harlequin Mixed Colors? Quick Answer

Perennial Columbine (Aquilegia), also known as Grandma’s Bonnet, displays bell-shaped, spurred flowers ranging in color from light pastel to bright reds, yellows, oranges, purples, and bicolors from mid-spring to early summer. How to plant and grow columbine flowers in your garden!

About Columbine

Once established, columbines will multiply for years, and although they are perennials, they also reproduce quickly by self-seeding. There are more than 70 species, including several native North American cultivars. Most columbines flower from mid-spring to early summer.

Columbine flowers attract butterflies, bees, moths and hummingbirds. The leaves have a lacy appearance and although they look delicate, columbine is hardy and resilient. Columbine is also deer resistant and drought tolerant.

Behold the delicate beauty of Columbine

Aquilegia Columbine or Aquilegia is a fascinating member of the Ranunculaceae family with exquisite petals that give it an ephemeral quality, like a hummingbird caught glimpsed. It is an herbaceous perennial that flowers spring through summer in USDA hardiness zones 3 through 9. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy through one of our links, we may receive a commission.

In this article you will learn how to grow and care for columbines.

What are columbine flowers?

Sometimes called grandma’s bonnet or buttercup, Aquilegia is native to the northeastern regions of the United States and Canada.

As well as these native species, there are introduced species from Europe that are also available to the home gardener, as well as desirable hybrids that have been bred to offer enhancements such as a varied color range, exceptional hardiness and impressive heights.

Flowers offer a variety of colors, including orange, pink, purple, red, white, yellow, and even green, with contrasting or matching centers. Sizes range from a petite six inches to nearly three feet tall.

The often bicolored blooms are perched on delicate stalks that rise from a cushion of fern-like foliage. Slender spores filled with nectar attract bumblebees and hummingbirds.

In cool regions, Aquilegia grows well in full sun, but in warmer areas it benefits from partial to full shade. Average to moist, well-drained soil is best for this drought tolerant plant.

A. canadensis, also known as eastern or wild red columbine, is a native plant commonly found in the cool shade of wooded areas. The characteristic downward-facing flowers of red or pink with a yellow center are well known to mountain hikers.

Another native you may be familiar with is A. caerulea. The Colorado Blue variety is featured in our article on 11 native blue wildflowers for the garden.

The European columbine has also found its way to the United States and is naturalized here. Common cultivars are A. vulgaris and A. alpina.

propagation

Columbine grows easily from seed. You can try dividing plants to make new ones, but the rootstock and foliage are very fragile and may not survive the process.

This is a short-lived perennial and the plants typically last around three years. However, it also self-seeds, so if you allow the seedlings to establish themselves, you may have buds for years.

Keep in mind that while a native plant will sow seeds identical to the parent plant, a hybrid’s seeds may or may not produce plants of the same quality, and the colors are likely to vary.

In addition, plants growing in close proximity to one another are likely to cross-pollinate, further altering the hues of the offspring raised from seed and possibly leading to the dominance of one color over others.

how do i breed

Start sowing indoors in late winter, or wait until the last average spring frost date in your area has passed and sow directly in the garden.

Alternatively, you can sow seeds after the summer heat has subsided to allow the plants to become established before the first frost.

Lightly dampen the potting soil if you start indoors.

Outdoors, work the soil down about 6 inches (15 cm) until it is crumbly. Add sand or leaf mulch to improve drainage and loosen the soil as needed.

Scatter the seeds on the surface of the earth and gently press them into place. Don’t cover them.

If you started seeds indoors, place them in a cool place until the seed leaves or cotyledons appear.

Then you can put them in indirect sunlight. Be careful placing it on a windowsill as the glass concentrates heat and can scorch delicate muntins.

Keep the moisture even, but don’t oversaturate.

When the first true leaves appear, gradually acclimate the seedlings indoors to the garden conditions by placing them outside for about an hour the first day, two the next, etc. for a total of three or four days before transplanting them into the garden.

If planting or transplanting outdoors, choose a site with full sun to part shade that has average soil and drains very well. If you want to know its pH and assess its quality, do a soil test.

Continue to provide even moisture to seedlings in the garden, but do not oversaturate the soil. As the weather warms up, be sure to water weekly when it’s not raining.

growing tips

Chill the seeds overnight to speed up germination before sowing.

Provide adequate drainage, as standing water in winter is likely to rot the perennial rootstock during dormancy.

If you have a favorite variety, don’t plant it near other varieties as cross-pollination is likely.

Place plants according to seed packet instructions to prevent moisture build-up that can lead to fungal diseases.

Best use

Aquilegia is a useful plant for beds and borders because it comes in a wide variety of colors, has a shallow root system, and grows in clumps.

It is a popular choice for cottage style gardening and is suitable for both tall and low plants as its foliage is sparse.

Aquilegia benefits from the shadow cast by shrubs or taller companions, creating a delicate, delicate foreground display.

It is also excellent for containers and for small space gardening where well trained plants are essential.

Good plant companions with columbine are allium, daylily, foxglove, heuchera, iris, peony, phlox and poppy.

Introducing aquilegia into the landscape is an excellent way to attract beneficial pollinators like bumblebees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

maintenance

As described, constant humidity is required during the germination and seedling stages. Once the plants are well established in the garden, weekly watering without rain is recommended.

Plants are short-lived but self-seed. Keep in mind that hybrids produce seedlings that are different from the parent plants. So if you don’t want a “potluck” strain of plants growing alongside your award-winning specimens, be sure to weed them out.

Pot the volunteer seedlings to give to friends, plant away from the mother plant, or discard on the compost heap.

Weed the garden regularly to minimize competition for water. This is also a good way to prevent insect infestation.

Deadhead bloomed throughout the growing season to encourage more growth.

Dealing with pests and diseases

Aquilegia attracts leaf miners, small brown/black flies that lay their eggs on the underside of the leaves. When the larvae hatch, they eat through the foliage, causing unsightly damage but not killing the plants.

If you see eggs, insects, or larvae, remove them and throw them in the trash. If they are still a problem, apply neem oil. This is a natural pesticide that should solve the problem.

You can also encounter powdery mildew, a fungal disease that leaves a dusty white coating on leaf surfaces. Aside from being unattractive, it can stunt growth or kill plants.

Again, neem oil is the answer as it is also a fungicide.

Some people apply it preventively before the problems start.

Quick installation guide

Plant Type: Perennial flowering plant Flower/Foliage Color: Orange, pink, purple, red, white, yellow, and bicolor Native: Northeast America and Canada, Europe Maintenance: Moderate Hardiness (USDA Zone): 3-9 Tolerance: Deer, rabbits, various Soils and Drought Flowering Time/Season: Spring to Summer Soil Type: Average Exposure: Full sun to part shade Soil pH: 6.8-7.2 Spacing: 8-12 in for small varieties, 12-18 in for large Soil Drainage: Well-Draining Planting Depth: Surface seed Companion Planting: Allium, Daylily, Foxglove, Heuchera, Iris, Peony, Phlox, Poppy Height: 6-36 in Use: Beds, borders, cottage gardens and small gardens: 12-18 in Family: Ranunculaceae Water Requirements: Moderate Subfamily : Thalictroideae Attracts: Bumblebees, butterflies and hummingbirds Genus: Aquilegia Pests and Diseases: Leaf miner and powdery mildew Species: Various

Welcome spring

I have always enjoyed growing these beautiful heralds of spring.

When they start growing under my weeping cherry, I know another northeastern winter is behind me and the days will soon be warm.

Now it’s your turn to experience the joy of seeing this beauty as she makes her spring debut.

Let’s recap:

Aquilegia is available in native, introduced, and cultivated varieties.

The flowers have striking colors and unusual spurs that give them an exotic, ephemeral appearance.

You can sow seeds before summer warms up or after it cools down.

A variety of flowers plays well with it and attractive mixed plantings can be created.

Beneficial pollinators seek its nectar.

seek its nectar. Routine maintenance is of moderate difficulty and primarily focuses on even moisture and proper drainage.

Pests and diseases are few.

Are you welcoming spring this year with the dainty elegance of columbines?

from High Country Gardens

Columbines (Columbines) are some of our best wildflowers for shady and partially shaded areas of the garden. They enjoy compost-enriched soil with moderate moisture. Columbines are also very attractive to hummingbirds, providing an abundant supply of nectar from nature from late spring through the summer months.

These perennials are most useful under trees in dappled shade or planted along the north or northeast sides of buildings and walls. Individual columbine plants are not long-lived (3 or 4 years) but form long-lived plant colonies by reseeding with ease. I make it a point to only plant non-hybrid strains to ensure my plants grow from seed and the buds remain brightly colored like the parent plants. Many columbines available in big box stores are hybrids. If these hybrids self-seed for several generations, their seedlings’ flowers will turn a dingy shade of yellow, regardless of their original flower color.

As such, I recommend planting your beds with only one variety of non-hybrid plants (like the varieties sold by High Country Gardens) and ensuring there is some spacing between plantings of different Columbine cultivars to prevent them from mixing with each other cross.

New to our 2013 Aquilegia selection is a very pretty variety, Pink Lanterns (above right), discovered at the Dyck Arboretum of the Plains in Kansas. The flowers are a color sport of ‘Little Lanterns’ and are a pleasant shade of soft pink.

Columbine sp. “Swallowtail” is a spectacular strain that I originally bred from seeds I collected in south-central Arizona. The huge bi-colored yellow and pale yellow flowers have graceful spurs 3 ½ to 4 inches long that sweep backwards from the face of the flowers. “Swallowtail foliage is blue or blue-green, which adds to the overall beauty of the plant.

Aquilegia desertorum returns to the catalog after an absence of several years; I had run out of seeds and had to gather more from a replanting of stem plants over the past two years. Desert Columbine is a long bloomer, covering itself in dainty orange and yellow blooms for many months throughout spring and summer. Native to central Arizona, it grows best with some morning sun and shade from the sun’s hot afternoon rays.

Aquilegia chrysantha v. Chapellinii ‘Little Treasure’ is another of my favorite strains. It is a short growing variety that I bred many years ago from wild collected seeds collected in south-central New Mexico. ‘Little Treasure’ blooms about 15 to 16 inches tall with compact, bright yellow flowers that point skyward like a nest of baby birds waiting for their mother. The foliage is finely textured and looks just like that of a maidenhair fern. This is a very pretty, very distinctive native variety that flowers for several months from late spring.

Wild Columbine (Aquilegia) can be domesticated to make a colorful addition to any garden, along with an abundance of pollinating bees, foraging hummingbirds and fluttering butterflies. Columbine’s iridescent colors range from deep purple to white from dwarf to small lanterns that grow to at least 10 inches tall. Its spiky petals emerge from a central pod and grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 3 through 9, denoting its versatility. Pruning columbines immediately after flowering can yield a second color display within their short season.

Wild columbines are considered newcomers to North America, crossing the land bridge between Asia and Alaska and the Yukon between 10,000 and 40,000 years ago. They were the basis for the many varieties of columbines that slowly worked their way across Canada and south into what is now the United States. Today, columbines can be sown at elevations of up to 10,000 feet, a testament to their origins. Different colors and shapes also evolved through their migration and acclimatization.

With over 70 species calling themselves Columbines, the flower is popping up in some of the least-expected places as wildlife drop seeds when they move. While the plant is deer and rabbit resistant, identifying a columbine can be confusing. Colors range from dark purple to white, and petal formation can be sparse or lush.

As a perennial, the columbine’s life cycle for returning each season is short-lived. After three seasons, replanting may be necessary to complete the abundance of your garden. They also make a good container plant, especially when complemented with additional woodland flowers such as violets (Viola) and trilliums (Trillium).

Late spring and early summer is the season for columbines, and the blooms last about four weeks before drooping.

They do not require intensive care; Instead, they only require watering, mulching, and food-level composting to encourage flowering. With a tendency to become leggy, the columbine’s roots dig deep into the soil to drink up the nutrients it needs.

Columbines begin their colorful flowering season with foliage appearing in early spring, followed by bursts of blooming petals. If the garden is in a cooler climate, find a spot where they can take full sun. In a very hot climate, avoid full sun to avoid burns. Partial sun is appreciated.

There are two schools of thought regarding dead columbines. As a perennial, the flower produces a variety of seeds that many gardeners use to reseed the plant. This can cause a garden to grow uncontrollably if the buds are not dead, but it also contributes to the new growth that the garden needs after a few years.

When the flower begins to fade and droop, it is no longer attractive in the garden and this is the time to die off. Cut the heads down to their base and discard them. Pests like to burrow into the flowers, and using them as compost can infect future garden growth. Deadheading is an effective method of controlling pests and can breathe new life into your plant with a surprise bloom that appears in late summer.

Growing Columbines So easy, so elegant, so happy to move from the mountains and meadows to your garden Text and photos by Ken Druse FREE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER: Plants, design ideas, garden solutions and more!

Certain words associated with gardening scare me a little, such as “easy” and “foolproof.” We know that few valuable things in gardening (and in life) are easy to achieve. However, columbines could be described with these words. Finally, columbines come easily from seed and flower when young—to just about any gardening enthusiast.

Swipe to view slides Photo by: Ken Druse The variety of shapes and colors of columbine is amazing even within a single group of hybrids. Pictured here is delicate white Aquilegia vulgaris. Photo by: Ken Druse A blue flowering variety from the same group developed by Ken Druse. Photo by: Ken Druse Aquilegia vulgaris ‘Aureovariegata’, another selection of European species, has green mottled yellow leaves fading to white and pristine white flowers. Prune the plant after flowering to reveal bright new foliage. Photo by: Ken Druse A color blended with McKana Hybrids. Photo by: Ken Druse A. chrysantha, a golden native of the Southwest. Photo by: Ken Druse A bicolor hybrid resembling A. formosa native to the West Coast may possess some of its genes. Photo by: Ken Druse An early flowering variety self-seeds in a carpet of spring daffodils and blue Phlox divaricata. Photo by: Ken Druse A plant with tiny double flowers emerges not far from where ‘Nora Barlow’, an old-fashioned variety named after Charles Darwin’s daughter, once grew. Photo by: Ken Druse Druse’s variety of mixed hybrids produces buds in shades of pink, lavender, and pure white. Photo by: Ken Druse When isolated in the garden, species such as North American favorites Aquilegia canadensis, shown from the east, and A. caerulea, the Rocky Mountain columbine, are preserved. Photo by: Ken Druse A. caerulea, the Rocky Mountain columbine.

Columbines are also easy to appreciate. They bloom from mid spring to early summer. Some species have flowers of one color; others have contrasting sepals and petals. There are alpine miniatures a few inches tall and hybrid garden plants up to 3 feet. Some species have flowers that dangle or nod and others are erect, somewhat like a horn.

All species have spurs projecting backwards into the flowers, identifying them as columbines. The Latin name (Aquilegia) comes from these spurs, which resemble eagle claws in some species – Aquila is Latin for “eagle”. The leaves are also very recognizable: they consist of green to blue-green leaflets held flat in groups of three, six or nine on long petioles or petioles. Other plants with similar leaves even refer to the name of columbine to emphasize the resemblance – Thalictrum aquilegifolium is columbine meadow rue.

Several species are North American natives. The small nodding red flowers of Canada Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) are seen in spring on plants native to the eastern states. Canadian columbine patches in the open shade of the eastern woods; It can be grown in zones 3 through 8. Golden Columbine (A. chrysantha) grows in the Southwest, and a subspecies can be found east of Texas, appearing in rock crevices or at the edge of short grass prairies. Although native to hot and dry climates, golden columbine and its cultivars are hardy in zones 4 through 8. Spores up to 4 inches long distinguish the pale yellow long-spur columbine (A. longissima) from the southern U.S., growing in zones 4 through 8. The beautiful blue-and-white columbine of the Rocky Mountains (A. caerulea is Colorado’s state flower). Imagine what it must be like to see thousands of plants in an alpine meadow. It grows in zones 3 through 8.

The native plants spread by seeds that spill out of calyx-like pods when they blow in the wind. The reasons why columbines are considered easy to grow could be because they self-seed, grow quickly, and flower young. But there might be a price. Columbines are very short-lived perennials. To me, most of them behave like biennials, germinating one season and flowering the next year. Rarely do I see the same single plant last longer than a year. The seedlings bloom in place of their parents, so I always have flowers. But if not kept in isolation from the others, species and cultivars will hybridize freely to produce flowers that share characteristics of both parents and all of their ancestors. When asked what columbines I grow, I have trouble answering. My plants are “Aquilegia mixedupensis”.

An early and still popular named hybrid was introduced in the mid-1950s. The large, long-spiked ‘McKana Hybrid’ flowers look a bit like A. caerulea, but come in a variety of pastel color combinations. Today, commercial cultivars are classified as long-spurred or short-spurred. The long-spurred hybrids can have A. canadensis, A. chrysantha, A. caerulea and A. formosa in their heritage. Short-spurred hybrids developed when the European species A. vulgaris was added to the mix. I know that A. vulgaris (zones 4 through 8) is somehow present in my garden because most of my plants have short stolons. Double flowers are also an indication of the presence of A. vulgaris as a parent. ‘Nora Barlow’, a cultivar of A. vulgaris named after Charles Darwin’s granddaughter, and ‘Adelaide Addison’, pompom-flowered plants that grew one season in the garden, may have contributed to the double-petal trait I’ve noticed.

Because columbines practice such free love, I was able to paint in my garden with columbine paint. When the first flower opens on a plant, I discard it if it’s a shade I might not want. For example, in one bed I encouraged flowers that are pale pink to white. I’ve plucked out the occasional muddy lavender roots and all. After a few years, no plants of the “wrong” color appeared. It’s possible that I developed my own “tribe”.

A strain is a genetically pure population of plants that retains its uniqueness from generation to generation when the plants are grown in isolation in a colony of their own species, far enough away from other species to contribute pollen. Pulling out the rogue plants will prevent them from setting seed, so only those with the desired traits will self-seed. This is how old fruit and vegetable varieties are developed and bred from seed. So I have waves of pastel pink hues in one spot. On the other side of the garden is another bed with flowers ranging in color from cherry to burgundy. Elsewhere, most of the blooms are double—deep violet or lilac with frilly white petticoats.

Columbines have a few problems. In dry summers, the leaves may show symptoms of powdery mildew (white powder on leaves) or rust (orange-red spots on leaves). Most people who have raised columbines are already aware of their encounters with leaf miners. Many species and almost all hybrids are prey to these insects, which eat the tissues in the cells of the leaves, forming disfiguring, pale burrows. All of these problems are rarely fatal and can be treated with chemicals. But I live with the damage and prune plants well back after flowering to encourage new undamaged leaves to bloom.

Columbines are easy and foolproof, but I suppose these few problems keep them from gaining another hopeful garden trait – carefree.

In the bag

Columbine seed pods are attractive, upright receptacles filled with glossy black seeds. If you are not around on the day the pods burst open, the ripe seeds will be scattered several feet in all directions. That might be exactly what you want. But if you want to collect seeds from some of your plants to divide or sow in another part of the garden, you need to be vigilant. One of the best ways to bag your quarry is to cover the pods before they ripen.

When the last flowers on a plant wither, the first seeds will be ripe. Cover the entire cluster of fruit with an inverted brown paper bag and tie it around the stems. Leave the bag on the plant until the stem visible under the tied stem begins to turn brown. Then cut the stems and bag from the plant, bring the bag inside and hang it right side up in a spot with good air circulation. The seeds fall from the pods into the bag. After a few weeks, when the stalks are dry and brown, shake the bag to loosen any seeds caught in the pods. Untie the bag, open it and carefully remove the stems.

You may want to keep some of those clean, black seeds in paper envelopes for later sowing or gifting. For long-term storage, place the envelopes in a sealed glass jar and refrigerate. In this way, seeds can be kept germinable for years.

You can sow these seeds immediately in the ground where you want them to grow or in pots to put in a cold frame, or you can put them on the snow in winter or in early spring either in pots or directly on the ground sow. (Alpine species may take two years to germinate.)

A matter of taste

When a flower is blue, we long for it. If it’s green, brown, or black, we’ll kill for it. Two columbine species satisfy both the discerning gardener and the full-grown plant enthusiast: fan columbine (Aquilegia flabellate), zones 3 through 9, and green columbine (A. viridiflora), top, zones 4 through 8.

The fan columbine is a Japanese species that grows to an 18 inch tall compact dense plant with thicker, bluer leaves than most species. The flowers also have a compressed appearance in shades of purple to blue with curved or hooked spurs. There are a few cultivars, including Aquilegia flabellate ‘Nana Alba’, which is shorter than the species, and A. flabellate f. alba, with white flowers. These plants make a wonderful border, where the foliage before and after flowering can contribute.

Of the columbine, Alan Armitage writes in his book Herbaceous Perennial Plants: A Treatise on their Identification, Culture, and Garden Attributes: “…for the gardeners who cannot control their habit of columbine there is even a green-flowered species , Aquilegia viridiflora that no one will like but you.” This plant has bicolored flowers, chocolate brown petals with pale green sepals. I really like this style but must warn that unless carefully positioned, perhaps in front of a rock, the subtle blooms will blend into the background.

TIED TOGETHER:

spring wildflowers

Full shade to partial shade (0-4 hours of direct sunlight)

Mature height 9 – 11 inches

Mature spread 9-11 inches

Growing zones 3 – 9

Earlybird™ White Columbine’s white flowers are a welcome sign of spring. This beauty has a monochromatic look with white inner petals surrounded by white spurred petals. This Aquilegia strain starts flowering in early spring with a 10-12 day flowering window. The white flowers are offset by soft green foliage.

This plant grows as a perennial in USDA Growth Zones 3 through 9 and is naturally suited to borders, mass planting, or containers. The beautiful white flowers are a showy specimen or complement any other early flowering plant. Plant near the front of a border so the flowers of this compact perennial are visible. Cut flowers can last up to two weeks and look beautiful in arrangements. Columbine will welcome butterflies and hummingbirds but is not favored by deer and rabbits.

Earlybird™ care for white columbine

This plant prefers full shade, so find a spot with around 4 hours of sunlight. New plants need water when the top few inches of soil dries up, but established plants benefit from weekly watering. Use acidic soil that is rich and well-drained. Apply a balanced fertilizer once a month during the growing season.

Remove faded flowers to keep the plant looking tidy and not self-seeding. Leave the greenery in place after the flowers have withered and cut back most of the growth in the fall. Cut just above the basal leaves or the lowest layer of leaves to protect the roots from cold winter weather. Remove dead growth in spring.

Earlybird™ White Columbine spacing

This plant will grow 9 to 11 inches tall and 8 to 12 inches wide. Create a complete and continuous planting by keeping Columbine 8 to 12 inches apart. A 12 inch pot is big enough for one plant.

Botanical name Aquilegia spp. Common Name Columbine Ranunculaceae Plant Type Perennial Adult Size 15-20 in. tall, 12-18 in. wide Sun Exposure Complete, partial Soil Type Moist but well-drained soil Soil pH Acidic, Neutral Flowering Time Spring, Summer Flower Color Blue, orange, pink, purple , red, white, yellow Origin Europe, North America Toxicity Toxic to humans and pets

care of the columbine

You can start columbine flowers from seed or nursery plants. They do well in almost any well-drained soil, but prefer slightly acidic soil. Columbine plants should be planted with the crown at ground level. Seeds can be sown directly in spring. The seeds need light to germinate, so just press them to the surface of the soil, barely covering them with soil. When planted from seed, it can take two full years before she can enjoy flowering.

Most types of columbine plants flower for at least four weeks and are hardier plants than they appear. They tend to be short-lived perennials, but they will spread through self-seeding and remain in your garden for years. When the blooms are ready for the season, cut the plants down to the ground and let the surrounding plants fill in the space. The columbines will reliably return the following year or replace themselves with self-seeded volunteers.

The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

light

For the best flowering and healthiest plants, a semi-shaded spot is ideal. Columbine plants can tolerate full sun in cooler climates, but after they’ve flowered and rebuilt their energy stores, they’ll appreciate some shade in the summer heat.

floor

Any type of soil can be used to grow columbine plants, although it works better with sandy, loamy soils and not quite as well with heavy clay soils. Well-drained soil is important. Mulch the plant to retain moisture and keep the roots cool.

water

New plants need to be kept moist until they become established. You’ll know they’re established when they start putting out lots of new growth. Even then, keep your columbine plants well watered during dry spells.

temperature and humidity

Columbine is sensitive to high temperatures and cooler weather produces more flowers. Hot temperatures cause the plant to go dormant in the summer.

fertilizer

Fertilize the plant monthly with a water-soluble formula. This encourages dense foliage and bright buds.

Types of Columbine

Columbine varieties include dwarf varieties that are only 6 inches tall as well as tall varieties like McKana’s Giants that are more than 3 feet tall and have large flowers. Keep in mind that Aquilegia cultivars easily pollinate each other. If you plant more than one variety, be prepared to see new colors and combinations. A small portion of Columbine varieties includes:

Aquilegia ‘Crimson Star’ has long-spiked, crimson flowers and blooms for four to six weeks in late spring to early summer.

has long-spiked, crimson flowers and blooms for four to six weeks in late spring to early summer. Columbine ‘McKana Hybrid’ grows long-spiked, bicolored flowers that can be blue and white, red and yellow, or other color combinations; it blooms in late spring to early summer.

grows long-spiked, bicolored flowers that can be blue and white, red and yellow, or other color combinations; it blooms in late spring to early summer. Aquilegia caerulea (Rocky Mountain Columbine) has fern-like foliage that is grey-green in color and blooms for four to six weeks in late spring and early summer. The flowers have purple-blue sepals, white petals and yellow stamens.

features fern-like foliage that is grey-green in color and blooms for four to six weeks in late spring and early summer. The flowers have purple-blue sepals, white petals and yellow stamens. Aquilegia Songbird ‘BlueBird’ blooms with long-spiked blue and white flowers up to 3 inches long; Part of Columbine’s Songbird series, which also includes “Cardinal” and “Dove”.

clipping

Cut back columbine plants to their healthy basal leaves immediately after flowering. It can encourage a second stem growth within a few weeks, allowing you to enjoy another wave of blooms later in the season. Columbines can be cut back to about half their height after flowering to keep the plant attractive and green for the rest of the summer.

How to propagate columbines

Columbine is not easy to lift and divide as it has deep roots. If you must divide, dig as deep as you can in a circle around the roots, pull it up without breaking the globe, and quickly divide with a sharp spade. Keep as much soil around the roots as possible and transplant quickly.

Propagation from collected seeds is easier. After the petals have dried, harvest the mature seed pods left inside and crack them open to collect the shiny black seeds. Store them in the fridge over the winter, then plant them in the garden the following spring. However, if the parent plant is a hybrid, the seeds may not produce plants that match the parent plant.

How to grow columbine from seed

It’s not difficult to grow columbine flowers from seed, but be aware that they usually don’t flower for their second year. In addition, the seeds need a three to four week cold period to germinate, which you can ensure by storing the seed packets in the fridge before sowing.

Plant the columbine seeds in moist soil in a warm, sunny spot indoors. It takes about 30 days for the seeds to germinate. The seedlings require 16 hours of light, so a grow light is recommended. Once the seedlings develop a pair of true leaves and reach a size of 3 to 4 inches, pot them into larger containers. Harden off the plants for two weeks before transplanting them into the garden.

wintering

Remove dead foliage and cut back to ground level. Use a light layer of mulch to protect plants in winter.

Common pests and plant diseases

Columbine plants are susceptible to leaf miners, a pest that can disfigure leaves but rarely kills plants. Chemical pesticides can prevent leaf miners, but are not recommended as the pests do not kill the plant. Aphids are a minor problem, treatable with insecticidal soaps and oils.

How to get Columbine to flower

Keep in mind that many columbine species flower only in the second season. They need the first season to build up a healthy root system and have no energy for the beautiful buds. If the columbine is planted too deep it will not flower as it requires shallow planting. Make sure the layer of mulch used for overwintering is removed early in the season as this can also smother the blooms. Finally, remember that nitrogen-rich soil produces beautiful green leaves but stunts the growth of flowers.

Leave the faded flower stalks attached to the columbine to produce seeds. Columbines are self-seeders and leaving the faded flower stalk on the plant allows the seeds to mature.

Columbines, also known as columbines, are Colorado’s state flower.

Columbines are self-seeders and leaving the faded flower stalk on the plant allows the seeds to mature.

Remove the faded flower stalk if you don’t want the plant to self-seed. Cut these stems down to the ground.

Keep watering the columbines even after the flowers have faded. Keep the soil moist, but don’t let the soil become waterlogged.

Remove withered leaves from the columbine. Cut the withered leaves back to the ground.

Sprinkle a thin layer of mulch or rotting leaves over the cut columbine plants.

from High Country Gardens

Columbines (Columbines) are some of our best wildflowers for shady and partially shaded areas of the garden. They enjoy compost-enriched soil with moderate moisture. Columbines are also very attractive to hummingbirds, providing an abundant supply of nectar from nature from late spring through the summer months.

These perennials are most useful under trees in dappled shade or planted along the north or northeast sides of buildings and walls. Individual columbine plants are not long-lived (3 or 4 years) but form long-lived plant colonies by reseeding with ease. I make it a point to only plant non-hybrid strains to ensure my plants grow from seed and the buds remain brightly colored like the parent plants. Many columbines available in big box stores are hybrids. If these hybrids self-seed for several generations, their seedlings’ flowers will turn a dingy shade of yellow, regardless of their original flower color.

As such, I recommend planting your beds with only one variety of non-hybrid plants (like the varieties sold by High Country Gardens) and ensuring there is some spacing between plantings of different Columbine cultivars to prevent them from mixing with each other cross.

New to our 2013 Aquilegia selection is a very pretty variety, Pink Lanterns (above right), discovered at the Dyck Arboretum of the Plains in Kansas. The flowers are a color sport of ‘Little Lanterns’ and are a pleasant shade of soft pink.

Columbine sp. “Swallowtail” is a spectacular strain that I originally bred from seeds I collected in south-central Arizona. The huge bi-colored yellow and pale yellow flowers have graceful spurs 3 ½ to 4 inches long that sweep backwards from the face of the flowers. “Swallowtail foliage is blue or blue-green, which adds to the overall beauty of the plant.

Aquilegia desertorum returns to the catalog after an absence of several years; I had run out of seeds and had to gather more from a replanting of stem plants over the past two years. Desert Columbine is a long bloomer, covering itself in dainty orange and yellow blooms for many months throughout spring and summer. Native to central Arizona, it grows best with some morning sun and shade from the sun’s hot afternoon rays.

Aquilegia chrysantha v. Chapellinii ‘Little Treasure’ is another of my favorite strains. It is a short growing variety that I bred many years ago from wild collected seeds collected in south-central New Mexico. ‘Little Treasure’ blooms about 15 to 16 inches tall with compact, bright yellow flowers that point skyward like a nest of baby birds waiting for their mother. The foliage is finely textured and looks just like that of a maidenhair fern. This is a very pretty, very distinctive native variety that flowers for several months from late spring.

Are you looking for a beautiful but sturdy addition to your garden? Your search is over.

Columbines are a beautiful woodland plant from the genus Aquilegia. They consist of approximately 100 species and cultivars distributed across the northern hemisphere.

They are native to the forest and mountain areas of Europe and North America. And thrive in areas of partial sun or mottled shade.

“The charm of a flower lies in its contradictions – so delicate in form and yet strong in fragrance, so small in size and yet so great in beauty, so short in life and yet so long in effect.”

– Luther Burbank

Common names for the flowers include the actual botanical name, Aquilegia, and Granny’s Bonnet.

Columbine plants are popular for their bell-shaped, spurred flowers. The flowers have a wide range of colors, ranging from muted pastels to bright reds, purples, and bicolors.

Are columbine flowers perennials?

The columbine is a perennial of the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae).

Although they may look delicate, columbines are hardy and offer seasonal interest for most of the year.

Rated for zones 3 through 9 on the USDA plant hardiness scale, they are adaptable and will do well in most areas of the United States.

When planting Aquilegia in your garden, look for spots that are sunny in the morning and slightly shaded in the afternoon.

The columbine plant thrives in moist, fertile soil that does not dry out quickly or puddle after rain.

You can plant columbines up to 9,000 feet, with some varieties growing to 10,000 feet.

Popular varieties and cultivars

There are countless good strains to choose from. There are even hybrids created specifically for American gardens.

Some of the traits to consider when choosing the right strain for your garden are:

Resistance to diseases and pests

Unique color

Double petals

Different spur lengths

Upward facing flowers

Some popular choices among American gardeners include:

1. A.caerulea

Blue Star | Image courtesy

Blue Star, botanical name Aquilegia caerulea, is a variety with beautiful blue flowers and a contrasting white center. Perfect for any focal point in the garden.

Blue Star buds are 3-4 inches in diameter with the plant reaching around 30 inches in height.

2. A.canadensis

Wild Columbine | Image courtesy

Aquilegia canadensis, also known as wild columbine or eastern red columbine, is a native Canadian species.

It is generally shorter with smaller buds than hybrid strains. Its flowers are only 1-2 inches across and grow 1-2 feet tall.

Aquilegia canadensis has red flowers with red spurs and contrasting yellow centers.

Another notable feature of the red columbine is that the flowers of this variety are “nodding flowers.” This means that the flower points downward rather than upward or outward, and the spores point upward.

3. A. hybrida

Mckana Giant | Image courtesy

A. hybrida, commonly referred to as Mckana Giant, is a stunning Aquilegia variety that offers multicolored blooms bursting with colour.

It has stunning two-tone patterns and striking long spurs that make it ideal for garden and indoor floral arrangements.

The upward-pointing flowers bloom in shades of red, purple, yellow, and white. The flowers measure 2-3 inches in diameter with the plant growing to around 2-3 feet tall.

4. A. vulgaris

Grandma’s Hood | Image courtesy

Aquilegia vulgaris, commonly known as grandma’s nightcap, is a columbine native to Europe.

Its flowers bloom in a variety of different shades ranging from purple to white.

A. vulgaris also has spreading sepals and short hooked spurs and grows to about 18 to 36 inches in height.

It does not have a long lifespan, but will productively self-seed under favorable conditions, forming large colonies.

5. Swan Burgundy and White

Burgundy and White | Image courtesy

A stunning strain with vibrant burgundy sepals, long spores and a white center.

It measures 2-3 inches in diameter with the plant reaching a moderate height of 18-20 inches.

How do you plant columbine flowers?

Table courtesy

Columbine is surprisingly easy to plant as it easily grows from seed. You can also divide established plants to make new ones. However, the rootstock and foliage are very fragile and may not survive the process.

If you intend to plant aquilegia from seed, remember that it is a biennial plant. It flowers only in the second year. Columbine seeds also have a stratification period of 3-4 weeks before germination.

Stratification refers to the process of breaking seed dormancy to stimulate germination. The layering process simulates natural conditions in nature before germination. For example, prolonged cold temperatures in winter before germination in spring.

To stratify columbine flowers, place the seed packets in the refrigerator for 3-4 weeks before sowing in spring.

This works best when seeds are sown in seed trays or pots and refrigerated at 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

Alternatively, you can plant the seeds in late fall and let nature take its course. Seed dormancy will break over winter and your new flowers will germinate in spring.

When sowing the seeds, plant them in moist soil and cover with a light sprinkling of soil. Then place them in a warm, sunny spot until they germinate. This takes about thirty days.

Transplant the seedlings outside after they have developed their first pair of true leaves and are a few inches tall.

However, keep in mind that the seedlings must first be “hardened” before planting them in the garden.

This is a process by which young plants acclimate to outdoor conditions.

You can do this by placing the seedlings in a sheltered outdoor area for a week. Make sure the pitch is sheltered from wind and afternoon sun. Bring the seedlings indoors overnight if there is a risk of frost.

The hardening process is essential for the seedlings. It strengthens the cellular structure of the plants and reduces the likelihood of transplant shock.

Growing columbine flowers in containers

Columbine plants grow well in containers, but remember they attract hummingbirds in search of food. This makes them the ideal flower for your window box if you want to see hummingbirds outside your window.

flower box | Image courtesy

However, they can also attract other pollinators such as bees in search of nectar. If you don’t want bees on your doorstep, place your columbine plants away from doorways.

Note that potted columbine plants do not like deep soil beds. Look for a shallow container in your garden shed. Just make sure you plant them in rich potting soil that retains enough moisture.

Here are a few more tips to keep in mind when growing columbines in containers:

Keep the soil moist and between 65-70 degrees Fahrenheit.

Give the young plant plenty of light, at least 6 hours of morning sun.

Columbines do not need much fertilizer. Feed them a starter solution when they are 3-4 weeks old.

Pot creeks dry out faster, water regularly but be careful not to overwater.

Additionally, you can apply a layer of mulch around the base of the plant. Mulch helps regulate soil moisture and has the added benefit of keeping the soil cool.

Another critical factor to consider when planting columbines is lateral space, as columbines can spread quickly. Sow the columbine plants at least a foot apart, they will spread quickly once established.

Grow columbines directly in the garden

If you sow columbine flowers directly in the garden, do so in mid to late spring to early summer.

Make sure your seeds are well stratified and ready for sowing before planting. You can do this by following the layering procedure mentioned above.

Prepare the garden by removing all weeds and incorporating organic matter into the top 6-8 inches of soil.

You can then sow the columbine seeds using the following steps:

Scatter the seeds over the soil and cover them thinly with fine soil.

Press the soil lightly and keep it evenly moist but not soggy.

Seedlings will emerge in 22-30 days, thin to at least 10 inches to make room for propagation.

Water regularly, but do not water the plants.

DO NOT allow the young seedlings to dry out.

How to care for columbine flowers

Once established, columbines are easy to care for. All you have to do is make sure the plants don’t dry out.

Water them when the soil is dry and add liquid fertilizer about once a month.

Regular fertilizing will help the plants bring out their colorful blooms and form dense foliage.

If your columbine plants overgrow their container or location by mid-summer, don’t be afraid to prune them back. Pruning can help your columbine bloom all summer long.

However, save pruning of established stems for early spring. Pruning plants in the fall stimulates new growth that is likely to be damaged by frost.

Consider the following quick guide to caring for columbine plants:

Plant location Culture Soil and water requirements Container Sow the seeds, propagate by dividing the roots in spring Regular watering when young Once established they can survive a drought Rockeries Sow in early spring – around 20 degrees Celsius weather In hot summer weather, water well Woodlands seedlings in early Transplant spring Retains moisture and nutrients in the soil Sun to partial shade Self-seeding Moist, well-drained soil

The table shows possible locations where you can plant columbines, important growing tips, and how to maintain soil moisture in each scenario.

In addition, you can divide columbine plants every 2-3 years to keep them healthy. This is especially important if self-seeding becomes a problem for your plants.

Dig them up, shake off the soil and gently pull apart the roots to form a new section of plant.

What to do with columbine after flowering?

Once your plants have flowered, you need to kill off the finished flowers.

Deadheading refers to removing dead or faded flowers from plants. For columbines, pruning aims to encourage growth and new blooms, and can keep your columbines blooming all summer.

As the buds mature and begin to form seed heads, more energy goes into seed development than into the flower.

Deadheading directs this energy to the flowers, resulting in healthier plants and continuous buds.

Columbine pests and diseases

Although columbine (columbine) doesn’t suffer from many pests or diseases, there are a few things to watch out for. These are:

leaf mines

leaf miner | Image courtesy of leaf miner moth damage | Image courtesy

Columbine (Aquilegia) is susceptible to leaf miners. These are small brown or black flies that lay their eggs on the underside of the leaves.

When the eggs hatch, the larvae eat through the leaves and leave unsightly marks. But they don’t kill the plant.

You can control leaf miners with neem oil insecticide.

powdery mildew

Powdery mildew on columbine leaves | Image courtesy of Jay W. Pscheidt. 2018

Powdery mildew refers to a fungal disease that causes a dusty white coating on leaf surfaces.

Aside from being unattractive, powdery mildew can stunt the growth of your columbine and even kill it.

It thrives in areas with warm temperatures and high humidity (around the plants). An easy way to control the spread of powdery mildew is to make sure your plants’ leaves stay dry.

You can do this by watering at the base of the plants to avoid getting the leaves wet. Also note the recommended spacing between plants to improve air circulation.

For more stubborn problems, you can use neem oil. It is also an effective fungicide.

If you suspect that an invasive species is growing in your yard or on your land, you can contact the US Department of Agriculture, Natural Resource Inventory to report suspect or alien species at the following email address: nri@wdc .usda.gov

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