Wild Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)

Wild Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) is a perennial wildflower native to eastern North America, including Georgia. Delicate, divided medium green foliage provides a backdrop for small, drooping red and yellow, bell-like flowers in spring.

The distinctive blooms attract hummingbirds and bring seasonal color to woodland gardens and naturalized plantings.

Growing details

• Plant type: Perennial wildflower
• Origin: Eastern North America; Georgia native
• Mature size: 2–3 feet tall and 1–1.5 feet wide
• Spacing: Approximately 1 foot apart
• Hardiness: USDA zones 3–8
• Light: Flowers best in filtered sun
• Soil: Rich, well-drained soil
• Flowers: Nodding red and yellow, bell-like blooms
• Bloom season: Spring
• Foliage: Delicate, divided medium green leaves

Care and garden use

Remove flower stems after flowering to encourage possible rebloom. Keep soil uniformly moist after bloom to prolong the foliage display. This species has good resistance to leaf miners, although leaf miners can be serious pests of many other columbines.

Wild Columbine freely self-seeds, so monitor seedlings where spread is unwanted. Use in borders, grouped plantings, naturalized areas, wildlife gardens, rock gardens, woodland gardens, or containers. Pair with white wood aster, bleeding hearts, or foam flower.

Image credits: Fritzflohrreynolds, Aquilegia canadensis - Wild Columbine 2, CC BY-SA 3.0; Ragesoss, Stand of wild columbine, CC BY-SA 3.0. Plants naturally vary in appearance and may differ from the images shown.