(Western Columbine)

A larger look-alike of Canadian columbine (Aquilegia canadensis), the easy to grow western columbine is an airy, herbaceous perennial native to the western United States, Canada, and Mexico. In its native habitat it's found in rich moist forests, so it's quite shade tolerant and ideal for naturalistic woodland gardens. It has an open habit and elegant blooms.

Ferny clumps of lacy, three-parted leaves appear in spring, dying back to a few wisps in summer. In late spring to early summer,...

(Blue Limestone Columbine, Jone's Columbine)

The rare blue limstone columbine is an alpine, small, herbaceous perennial native to the Rocky Mountains in southern Alberta, Montana and Wyoming in westcentral North America. In its native habitat it's found in rocky crevices and screes in the higher mountain elevations. It has low, compact mounded habit and curiously elegant in and out of bloom.

In midsummer, it produces dainty, blue-violet to purple flowers with spurred nectaries that remain tucked in the tufts of foliage below. The leaves are...

(Columbine, Laramie Columbine)

Delicate, short-spurred, greenish white flowers cover this compact Native American columbine in summer. A rare alpine species that exists only in the Laramie Mountains, a Wyoming mountain group on the eastern edge of the Rockies, Laramie columbine thrives in moist, rocky crevices along open mountain faces. This is a species of concern, so be sure you obtain plants from reliable vendors offering nursery-grown stock.

Columbines are hardy, clump-forming perennials with thin, delicate leaves that...

(Columbine, Longspur Columbine)

Named and renowned for its exceptionally long-spurred yellow flowers, this elegant, hardy perennial comes from moist canyons and ravines in uplands of Texas, Arizona, and northern Mexico.

Ferny clumps of lacy, three-parted leaves appear in spring, dying back to a few wisps in summer. In early to midsummer, tall branched stems bear dainty, erect to horizontal flowers with five propeller-shaped petals, a starry collar of five pointed sepals, and five whiskery, spreading, 3- to 7-inch (7- to...

(Rock's Columbine)

Joseph Rock collected this richly colored columbine in the Szechwan region of China. Rock's columbine is an airy, herbaceous perennial found in Himalayan woodlands. It has an open habit and elegant look when in bloom with purple stems.

From late spring to summer, its tall purpled stems bear dainty, nodding, burgundy to purple flowers with prominent spurred nectaries and a central cup of short petals edged in white. These are subtended by delicate, ferny, three-parted leaves of soft green to bluish...

(Common Columbine)

Columbine is among the most beloved woodland perennials, cultivated for centuries in cottage gardens. This species is a native of Europe fondly called granny’s bonnet. The foliage bears three part lobed leaves of soft blue-green that are more densely held at the base of the plant. The leaves bear a striking similarity in shape and texture to those of the maidenhair fern. Columbine is a vigorous early season performer but the delicate foliage can suffer in the late season, so it is often paired...

(Common Columbine)

The pretty compact 'Clementine Blue' produces many densely packed double columbine flowers. In early to late spring this dwarf perennial puts forth masses of upward-facing, double, spurless blooms of violet-blue. Three-parted, lobed leaves of soft green form a mound at the base of the plants. The foliage often wanes towards summer's end.

Grow this columbine in full sun to partial shade and fertile well-drained soil that’s evenly moist. The more sunlight the more important it is the soil has available...

(Clementine Dark Purple Columbine, Common Columbine)

The pretty compact 'Clementine Dark Purple' produces many densely packed double columbine flowers. In early to late spring this dwarf perennial puts forth masses of upward-facing, double, spurless blooms of deep purple. Three-parted, lobed leaves of soft green form a mound at the base of the plants. The foliage often wanes towards summer's end.

Grow this columbine in full sun to partial shade and fertile well-drained soil that’s evenly moist. The more sunlight the more important it is the soil...

(Common Columbine)

The pretty compact 'Clementine Red' produces many densely packed double columbine flowers. In early to late spring this dwarf perennial puts forth masses of upward-facing, double, spurless blooms of dusky red. Three-parted, lobed leaves of soft green form a mound at the base of the plants. The foliage often wanes towards summer's end.

Grow this columbine in full sun to partial shade and fertile well-drained soil that’s evenly moist. The more sunlight the more important it is the soil has available...

(Clementine Rose Columbine, Common Columbine)

The pretty compact 'Clementine Rose' produces many densely packed double columbine flowers. In early to late spring this dwarf perennial puts forth masses of upward-facing, double, spurless blooms of soft rose. Three-parted, lobed leaves of soft green form a mound at the base of the plants. The foliage often wanes towards summer's end.

Grow this columbine in full sun to partial shade and fertile well-drained soil that’s evenly moist. The more sunlight the more important it is the soil has available...