Zone 5 · winter lows -20°F to -10°F

Aquilegia for Zone 5

57 Aquilegia varieties rated hardy through Zone 5, ranked by how many gardeners actually grow them. Zone 5 is classic northern gardening with a reliable snow blanket.

57 hardy hereof 57 Aquilegia totalLast frost ~early May

The Aquilegia that thrive in Zone 5

#1 most saved

Columbine Mix

Aquilegia x hybrida 'Mix'

Zones 4–8· 317 saves· from $10

#2 most saved

Columbine Double Flowers

Aquilegia vulgaris 'Double Flowers'

Zones 4–8· 256 saves

#3 most saved

Columbine

Aquilegia x hybrida 'Melba Higgins'

Zones 4–8· 255 saves

Columbine McKana Hybrids

Aquilegia vulgaris 'McKana Hybrids'

Zones 4–8· 238 saves

Biedermeier Columbine

Aquilegia vulgaris 'Biedermeier'

Zones 4–8· 212 saves

Tequila Sunrise Columbine

Aquilegia x hybrida 'Tequila Sunrise'

Zones 4–8· 201 saves

Eastern Red Columbine

Aquilegia canadensis

Zones 4–8· 139 saves· from $10

Common Columbine

Aquilegia vulgaris

Zones 4–8· 73 saves

Wild Columbine

Aquilegia canadensis 'Corbett'

Zones 4–8· 72 saves

Songbird Columbine

Aquilegia Songbird

Zones 4–8· 64 saves

Variegated Columbine

Aquilegia vulgaris 'Aureo-Variegata'

Zones 4–8· 59 saves

Eastern Columbine Little Lanterns

Aquilegia canadensis 'Little Lanterns'

Zones 4–8· 58 saves· from $30

Columbine Blue and White

Aquilegia x hybrida 'Blue and White'

Zones 4–8· 57 saves

Winky Rose Columbine

Aquilegia vulgaris 'Winky Rose'

Zones 4–8· 57 saves

Butterfly Columbine Mix

Aquilegia x hybrida 'Butterfly Columbine Mix'

Zones 4–9· 55 saves

Winky Double Red and White Columbine

Aquilegia viridis 'Winky Double Red and White'

Zones 4–8· 50 saves

Alpine Columbine

Aquilegia alpina

Zones 4–7· 50 saves

Aquilegia Yellow

Aquilegia x hybrida 'Yellow'

Zones 4–9· 49 saves

Rock's Columbine

Aquilegia rockii 'BSWJ 7965'

Zones 4–8· 48 saves

Colorado Blue Columbine

Aquilegia caerulea

Zones 4–8· 48 saves

Golden Columbine

Aquilegia chrysantha 'Flore Pleno'

Zones 4–9· 47 saves

Fan Columbine

Aquilegia flabellata

Zones 4–9· 46 saves

Columbine

Aquilegia eximia

Zones 4–7· 46 saves

McKana Hybrid Columbine

Aquilegia vulgaris 'McKana Hybrid'

Zones 4–8· 45 saves

Showing the 24 most-saved of 57 Zone 5–hardy Aquilegia varieties. See the full Aquilegia list →

Aquilegia in Zone 5

Will Aquilegia survive a Zone 5 winter?

57 of the 57 Aquilegia varieties in the Sow catalog are rated hardy through Zone 5, where winter lows reach -20°F to -10°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 5?

In Zone 5 the last spring frost typically lands around early May and the first fall frost around early October. 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 5?

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

All Aquilegia

Every Aquilegia variety (57)

Aquilegia in other zones

More for Zone 5

See Aquilegia in your Zone 5 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.