Pick up some columbine flower facts and learn to grow these native flowers virtually anywhere, in any size or color you could imagine.
During these uncertain times, bringing a sense of peace to our surroundings is more important than ever, and growing flowers is a rewarding way to achieve that result. Studies have shown that having flowers in landscaped areas outside patient recovery rooms at hospitals resulted in a significantly shortened recovery time and having flowers in and around your home increases memory retention and a sense of well-being.
If you’ve never planted flowers, it’s best to start with a few so you aren’t overwhelmed, and one of the best and easier to grow are columbines. A favorite of cottage gardeners with their clover-shaped leaves and graceful, showy flowers, they’re both attractive and easy to grow.
Columbine Flower Facts
A spring-blooming perennial native to North America, the columbine can be found at the edge of woods and near streams. As is often the case with native species, it’s a proficient self-sower. Once established, a bed of columbine can continue indefinitely. I found this to be true as I set out three plants on the side of our garage five years ago, and that planting has expanded into a six-by-four-foot bed. What I like best is that seeds sometimes find their way to unexpected areas of our yard, surprising us with their beauty–it always brings the feeling of receiving an unexpected gift.
Pick Your Color and Size
Aquilegia, the Latin name for columbine, refers to the flower’s five spurs resembling an eagle’s talons. Red columbine, A. canadensis, is well-suited for a wildflower garden. Hybridizers have developed flowers of many colors, including blue, purple, pink, yellow, and nearly black, in solids and bi-colors. Blooms range from 1-1/2 to 4 inches across and up to 6 inches long.
“Songbird Cardinal,” a red hybrid particularly attractive to hummingbirds, grows 12 to 24 inches and is a good choice for a border near a sitting area where you can enjoy watching hummingbirds feed.
“Nana Alba” is a white-on-white flower whose short stature (6 to 8 inches) makes it suitable for rock gardens. “Goldfinch,” as its name implies, has a delicate primrose-yellow bloom and reaches a height of 18 inches.
When planting hybrids, keep in mind that columbines cross-pollinate, creating new strains and colors unlike the parent plants. If you want your columbine bed to remain pure, plant different cultivars in beds that aren’t close together. Plant size ranges from 6 to 36 inches in height with a spread of 12 to 24 inches.
Planting and Growing
Columbines are perfect for an area in your garden that receives partial shade, as they prefer dappled light, although full sun is fine in cool summer climates. They aren’t tolerant of deep shade, and thrive in moist–but not wet–rich soil. Columbines can be grown successfully in USDA Zones 3 through 9. Start seeds outdoors in early spring for flowers the following spring. Don’t cover the seeds with soil, as indirect light is required for germination. Germination takes 3 to 4 weeks, so it’s a good idea to mark the seedbed after planting. Set plants 12 to 15 Inches apart in groupings of at least three. Mulch lightly to preserve moisture and discourage weeds.
Easy Care
Care is minimal. During the growing season, feed with a water-soluble fertilizer every two weeks. If the weather is excessively hot and muggy, powdery mildew may be a problem; simply cut back stems after bloom time. Unless the weather is unusually dry, new growth will typically appear and last until a killing frost. I live in central Virginia, and our bed typically stays green and lush all summer into late fall. Established plants are drought-tolerant and deer-resistant.
Living Link to the Past
Columbines, like all native plants, have adapted over a long period of time to their environment. They’ve weathered storms, droughts, insects, and diseases and haven’t only built up a tolerance to adversity but thrived. That may be part of the allure of the columbine, a seemingly fragile plant that’s survived hard times. A living lesson for us all.
Author’s note: Columbines should never be dug from the wild, as it is illegal in many places.
