10 named cultivars

perennial

Columbine

The Story

Plant Bio

Aquilegia x hybrida is the garden columbine, a group of hybrids grown for nodding spurred flowers in almost every colour and combination. Fine blue-green three-parted leaves form a low mound, above which wiry stems carry the one- to three-inch flowers in late spring and early summer, reaching one to three feet depending on the strain.

It is a short-lived perennial that keeps itself going by seeding, but the seedlings do not come true — a bed of named hybrids reverts to muddy purple-blue within a few generations. Deadhead if you want to keep the colours you bought, or let it seed and accept the mongrels. Either way, expect to replace named plants every three or four years.

Uses & Benefits:

Nodding spurred flowers in a colour range few spring perennials match, over fine blue-green foliage.

Self-seeds freely, so a planting maintains itself even as individual plants are short-lived.

Hummingbirds and long-tongued bees reach the nectar in the spurs; the foliage is largely deer resistant.

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Perennial

Height

24 inches

Width

18 inches

Light

Full Sun, Partial Sun

Zones

4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Water

Moderate

Humidity

Moderate

Lifespan

Short-lived perennial

Native To

Garden hybrid

Toxicity

Seeds and roots are toxic if eaten

Planting

How to Grow

Plant in partial shade in moist, well-drained soil.
Give it humus-rich ground that does not bake dry.
Deadhead to preserve named colours, or leave to seed.
Cut leaf-mined foliage to the base in midsummer.
Expect fresh growth to follow the summer cutback.
Sow or buy replacements every three or four years.

Pro Tip

When the leaves are ruined by miners in midsummer, shear the whole clump to the ground — it reflushes with clean foliage in a few weeks.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Plant in partial shade with steady moisture 🌿
Deadhead to keep named colours true ✂️
Shear mined foliage back in midsummer 🍃
Plan on replacing plants every few years 🔁

Don't

Expect seedlings to match the parent ❌
Let it bake dry in full afternoon sun ❌
Eat any part of the plant ❌

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Cut Back
Sow

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Cottage garden and mixed borderWoodland edge and dappled shadeContainer planting for spring interest

Companion Plants

HostaHardy Geranium Bleeding Heart Lady's Mantle Japanese Painted Fern

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Columbine questions

What zones can Columbine grow in?

Columbine is hardy in USDA Zones 4–9. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

Is Columbine deer resistant?

Yes — Columbine is rated deer-resistant. Deer typically pass it over, though extreme hunger can override any plant's defenses.

When does Columbine bloom?

Columbine typically blooms in late spring to early summer through early summer. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Does Columbine need full sun?

Columbine does best in full sun to part shade. In hot climates, afternoon shade keeps blooms fresher longer.