Wild Columbine

Scientific name

Aquilegia canadensis

Description

Wild Columbine is a perennial wildflower that grows about 0.5 m tall and is popular among gardeners due to its beautiful red and yellow coloured flowers. These flowers are nodding flowers, meaning that they droop downwards off the end of the branch. They have five sepals and five petals that stretch upwards creating five long spurs out the back. The leaves are attractive, compound and made up of 9-27 leaflets, appear in groups of three, and are rounded or broadly egg-shaped with rounded lobes. The sweet nectar of this wildflower is a great attractant to hummingbirds and butterflies.

Planting conditions

Wild Columbine grows best in moist conditions with partial sun exposure. It prefers organically rich, well drained loam or sand but can tolerate a range of moisture conditions and soil types. It can tolerate rocky and shallow soils. It can tolerate drought but young plants should be watered occasionally until established. This wildflower is naturally found in dry or moist forests, fens and bogs, on rocky slopes, and along stream or lake shorelines.

Details

• Plant height:
  • Max 1.5m
  • Max 2m
  • Max 3m
  • Any
• Moisture level:
  • Dry
  • Normal
  • Moist
  • Drought Tolerant
• Light conditions:
  • Partial sun
  • Shade
• Soil type:
  • Sandy
  • Loamy
  • Humus
  • Rocky
• pH:
  • Normal
• Depth:
  • Wildflower
• Eco Zone:
  • 3a
  • 3b
  • 4a
  • 4b
  • 5a
  • 5b
  • 6a
  • 6b
  • 7a
• Plant type:
  • Wildflower
• Height:
  • 0.5 m
• Spread:
  • 0.5 m