Zone 4 · winter lows -30°F to -20°F

Aquilegia for Zone 4

58 Aquilegia varieties rated hardy through Zone 4, ranked by how many gardeners actually grow them. Zone 4 is short, intense seasons — plants here are the toughest in the catalog.

58 hardy hereof 58 Aquilegia totalLast frost ~mid-May

The Aquilegia that thrive in Zone 4

Columbine Mix#1 most saved

Columbine Mix

Aquilegia x hybrida 'Mix'

Zones 4–8· 367 saves· from $13
Columbine Double Flowers#2 most saved

Columbine Double Flowers

Aquilegia vulgaris 'Double Flowers'

Zones 4–8· 295 saves
Melba Higgins Columbine#3 most saved

Melba Higgins Columbine

Aquilegia x hybrida 'Melba Higgins'

Zones 4–8· 294 saves
Columbine McKana Hybrids

Columbine McKana Hybrids

Aquilegia vulgaris 'McKana Hybrids'

Zones 4–8· 272 saves
Biedermeier Columbine

Biedermeier Columbine

Aquilegia vulgaris 'Biedermeier'

Zones 4–8· 246 saves
Tequila Sunrise Columbine

Tequila Sunrise Columbine

Aquilegia x hybrida 'Tequila Sunrise'

Zones 4–8· 230 saves
Eastern Red Columbine

Eastern Red Columbine

Aquilegia canadensis

Zones 4–8· 164 saves· from $12
Wild Columbine

Wild Columbine

Aquilegia canadensis 'Corbett'

Zones 4–8· 82 saves
Common Columbine

Common Columbine

Aquilegia vulgaris

Zones 4–8· 80 saves
Butterfly Columbine Mix

Butterfly Columbine Mix

Aquilegia x hybrida 'Butterfly Columbine Mix'

Zones 4–9· 72 saves
Songbird Columbine

Songbird Columbine

Aquilegia Songbird

Zones 4–8· 70 saves
Eastern Columbine Little Lanterns

Eastern Columbine Little Lanterns

Aquilegia canadensis 'Little Lanterns'

Zones 4–8· 69 saves· from $30
Variegated Columbine

Variegated Columbine

Aquilegia vulgaris 'Aureo-Variegata'

Zones 4–8· 66 saves
Colorado Blue Columbine

Colorado Blue Columbine

Aquilegia caerulea

Zones 4–8· 64 saves
Columbine Blue and White

Columbine Blue and White

Aquilegia x hybrida 'Blue and White'

Zones 4–8· 64 saves
Columbine

Columbine

Aquilegia eximia

Zones 4–7· 61 saves
Winky Rose Columbine

Winky Rose Columbine

Aquilegia vulgaris 'Winky Rose'

Zones 4–8· 60 saves
Winky Double Red and White Columbine

Winky Double Red and White Columbine

Aquilegia viridis 'Winky Double Red and White'

Zones 4–8· 57 saves
Fan Columbine

Fan Columbine

Aquilegia flabellata

Zones 4–9· 56 saves
Alpine Columbine

Alpine Columbine

Aquilegia alpina

Zones 4–7· 54 saves
Flore Pleno Golden Columbine

Flore Pleno Golden Columbine

Aquilegia chrysantha 'Flore Pleno'

Zones 4–9· 54 saves
Aquilegia Yellow

Aquilegia Yellow

Aquilegia x hybrida 'Yellow'

Zones 4–9· 54 saves
BSWJ 7965 Rock's Columbine

BSWJ 7965 Rock's Columbine

Aquilegia rockii 'BSWJ 7965'

Zones 4–8· 52 saves
Rocky Mountain Columbine

Rocky Mountain Columbine

Aquilegia caerulea 'Rose Queen'

Zones 4–8· 51 saves

Showing the 24 most-saved of 58 Zone 4–hardy Aquilegia varieties. See the full Aquilegia list →

Aquilegia in Zone 4

Will Aquilegia survive a Zone 4 winter?

58 of the 58 Aquilegia varieties in the Sow catalog are rated hardy through Zone 4, where winter lows reach -30°F to -20°F. Hardiness is per-variety, not per-genus — the plants listed above are the ones that hold up; others in the genus are not rated for this zone.

When should I plant Aquilegia in Zone 4?

In Zone 4 the last spring frost typically lands around mid-May and the first fall frost around late September. Planting after the last frost — or in early fall, so roots establish before the ground cools — gives the best establishment. Each plant page lists its own planting months.

Which Aquilegia is best for Zone 4?

Start at the top of the list above: it is ranked by how many gardeners actually save and grow each variety, which is a strong real-world reliability signal. Then narrow by your sun exposure and the mature size that fits the bed.

Keep exploring

See Aquilegia in your Zone 4 yard

Snap a photo of your space and Sow places these varieties in it at true mature size — then keeps the care schedule for everything you plant.