Columbine typically start flowering in April and May.
columbine
Aquilegia caerulea
The Columbine is an absolutely stunning perennial flower native to Europe. It has incredibly beautiful blue and white petals and a delicate appearance sure to add a peaceful air to your garden. It's perfect for rock gardens and woodland settings, as it's an ideal height for shady gardens. It has bright green foliage and a sweet scent, so it will attract pollinators to your garden. The Columbine is a hardy flower and can easily take on harsh weather conditions, so it will give you many years of beauty!
Cycle:
Herbaceous Perennial
Watering:
Average
Propagation:
Seed Propagation,Division,Cutting,Layering Propagation
Hardiness Zone:
3 - 10
Flowers:
Blue & white Flowers
Sun:
Full sun,part shade
Leaf:
Yes
Leaf Color:
green
Growth Rate:
Low
Maintenance:
Moderate
Care Level:
Medium
watering
Columbine (Aquilegia caerulea) should be watered on a regular basis to keep the soil evenly moist and not allow any standing water. Water when the top layer of the soil (1 to 2 inches down) feels dry to the touch. Potted plants should be watered more often than those in the garden. During warmer and drier months, water plants about 2 times per week. During cooler or wetter months, water plants about once a week. Make sure to water the soil surrounding the plant and not just the foliage as this can cause fungal diseases.
sunlight
Columbine (Aquilegia caerulea) thrives in partial shade to full sun exposure. The best location for this plant species is an area that receives 4 to 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. Columbines should avoid exposure to extreme midday or afternoon sun, as it can cause the plant to wilt. If planted in direct sunlight for more than 6 hours, the plant should be shaded or screened to maximize its growth potential. Columbines prefer the cooler morning and evening light.
pruning
Columbine (Aquilegia caerulea) should be pruned once a year in late winter or early spring. Prune off all dead and diseased stems and any spent flower stalks down to just above the foliage. This will promote healthier new growth and encourage more flowers. For more established plants that are overcrowded, more significant pruning may be necessary. Reduce the stems to encourage more bushiness and prune back the outer stems by 1-third to a half of their length. This type of pruning should be done in late spring after the first flush of blooms, or in mid-summer when new growth appears.
Season
Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Starts Flowering
Hardiness Map
FAQ
Is columbine a perennial flower?
Yes, columbine is a perennial flower that blooms in early spring and can often re-bloom through autumn. It grows quite well in full sun or part shade and thrives in well-drained soil. It's a great choice for adding some cheerful colour to your beds and borders with its intricate blooms of pastel hues. Columbine is also quite a resilient flower and does relatively well in colder climates.
Are columbine flowers suitable for rock gardens?
Yes, columbine flowers are suitable for rock gardens. Columbine tend to flourish in sunny rock gardens with good drainage and soil that isn't too rich. They prefer rocky, well-draining soils and need little or no supplemental watering, making them ideal for rock gardens. The flowers of columbine usually bloom once in the spring and then again in the fall. The blooms of most columbine species come in combinations of pink, white, yellow, purple, and blue. Planting several varieties of columbine together in a rock garden can give you a beautiful, show-stopping display.
Could columbine flowers be used as ground cover?
Columbine flowers can be used as ground cover in certain situations. They are relatively easy to grow, and tall varieties will generally give you a nice low-maintenance spread of foliage, although they can tend to be a bit sparser than more conventional ground covers. Columbine also has the advantage of producing a beautiful array of colors such as blues, purples, yellows, and more. When planted in large groups and in the right situation they can even bring about a beautiful carpet of blooms. It’s important to be aware that columbine is an aggressive self-seeder, so if you don’t want lots of columbine in other areas of your garden you might want to deadhead the flowers or grow it in a container.
Is columbine a good companion plant for roses?
Yes, columbine is an excellent companion plant for roses. Columbine's delicate blooms and attractive foliage provide a wonderful contrast for roses, while their unassuming habit and relatively shallow root system won't compete with the more aggressive roots of roses. The shade of the columbine's foliage also helps to protect roses from the intense heat of direct sun, keeping them lusher and more vibrant in appearance. Additionally, columbine's brightly colored blooms make a perfect backdrop for roses, bringing out their colorful petals in an eye-catching display.
Do columbine flowers self-seed easily?
Yes, Columbine flowers self-seed easily. These plants have a natural capacity to propagate themselves by reseeding in surrounding areas and growing new plants each year. This is why they are often considered to be a natural garden perennial. As the flowers are pollinated, they form seed pods which are dropped as the seeds mature and are then spread around the plant. The fact that the Columbine flower is capable of self-seeding is beneficial to gardeners as it reduces the need to replant them each season, resulting in a fuller and more vibrant garden.
Is columbine a good choice for pollinator gardens?
Yes, columbine is a great choice for pollinator gardens. Having tall, showy flowers that come in a variety of colors, columbine attracts many pollinators, including bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies. The large blooms also provide ample nectar for pollinators to feed on. Meanwhile, the leaves of the columbine are also edible and can provide food for caterpillars, which will in turn attract more pollinators. Finally, columbines are easy to grow in shady areas and can easily be incorporated into garden beds or along garden paths. All in all, columbine is an excellent choice for pollinator gardens.
Are columbine flowers suitable for vertical gardening?
Yes, columbine flowers are suitable for vertical gardening. Not only are they capable of tumbling down a wall or spilling out of a hanging basket, but they also provide a dramatic pop of color to any living wall installation, from a tiny backyard wall garden to a spacious rooftop oasis. Low-maintenance and relatively easy to propagate, columbine flowers can create an eye-catching focal point in a vertical garden.
