COMMON NAME: Wild columbine
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Aquilegia Canadensis – the Latin Aquila “eagle” refers to the
shape of the petals, thought to resemble an eagle’s claw.
FLOWER COLOR: Orange to red-yellow
BLOOMING PERIOD: May to June
SIZE: 2-3 feet
BEHAVIOR: Short-lived perennial that reseeds easily.
SITE REQUIREMENTS: Flowers best in full sun, but tolerates light shade. It prefers
dry, sandy sites in woods, cliffs. It needs moisture but the soil must drain well.
SPECIAL FEATURES: The flowers are nodding with upward spurred petals
alternating with spreading colored sepals and numerous yellow stamens hanging
below the petals. The compound leaves, divided into round-lobed threes, are
attractive in their own right. Columbine is a favorite of hummingbirds, bumblebees
and small children.
SUGGESTED CARE: Will flower the second year from seed. Sprinkle seeds in July
and August. Columbine does not tolerate competition.
NATURAL RANGE: All of the eastern 2/3 of the US, southern Canada. All of
Wisconsin.
COMPANION PLANTS: In dry oak woods with wild sarsaparilla and Solomon’s
plume; in shady prairie remnants with little bluestem, blazingstar, showy goldenrod
and spiderwort.
608-890-2555
staff@foamadison.org
