Aquilegia canadensis
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Tried and True Recommended by 5 Professionals
Species Native to Missouri
Common Name: columbine
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Ranunculaceae
Zone: 3 to 8
Native Range: Eastern North America
Garden Location: Birch Mahaffey Carpenter Butterfly Pavilion, Martha Love Symington Missouri Native Shade Garden, Suzanne Stagg Wright Rock Garden
Height: 2 to 3 feet
Spread: 1 to 1.5 feet
Bloom Time: April to May
Bloom Color: Pink, Red, Yellow
Bloom Description: Light pink/yellow to blood red/yellow
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Medium
Flowers: Showy Flowers
Wildlife: Attracts Hummingbirds
Tolerates: Dry Soil, Drought, Deer, Rabbits
Uses: Cut Flower, Will Naturalize

Culture

Easily grown in average, medium, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Wide range of soil tolerance as long as drainage is good. Prefers rich, moist soils in light to moderate shade. Freely self-seeds and will naturalize to form large colonies in optimum growing conditions.

Noteworthy Characteristics

Columbine is a Missouri native spring wildflower which occurs in rocky woods, slopes, ledges and open areas throughout the State. Features drooping, bell-like, 1-2", red and yellow flowers (red sepals, yellow-limbed petals, 5 distinctive red spurs and a mass of bushy yellow stamens). Delicate, biternate foliage is somewhat suggestive of meadow rue (Thalictrum) and remains attractive throughout the summer as long as soils are kept moist. Flowers are quite attractive to hummingbirds.

Problems

This species has very good resistance to leaf miner which often causes severe damage to the foliage of many other columbine species and hybrids.

Garden Uses

A wonderful addition to native plant gardens, woodland gardens, cottage gardens or naturalized areas. Also effective in borders.

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