Jesse Saylor
Family
Ranunculaceae
Botanical Name
Aquilegia coerulea
Plant Common Name
Colorado Blue Columbine
General Description
As the state flower of Colorado, this beautiful blue and white-flowered perennial offers outstanding color to early summer borders. It is native to a large part of the American west where it thrives in the woodlands of the Rockies and other mountain ranges. Its clumps of are lush and pretty when they first appear in spring. The blue-green leaves are three-parted and have a texture similar to that of maidenhair fern. While plants are attractive during the blooming season, the leaves die back when hot, dry summer temperatures hit.
The flowers are what really shine. They rise atop thin, purple branched stems from spring through early summer. Each large, spurred bloom is blue and white. The pretty outer petals are pale blue and the spurred, fluted inner petals are pale blue at the tips and white at the mouth. Each flower has a flourish of yellow stamens in the center.
Columbine grows best in full sun to partial shade and fertile well-drained soil that’s evenly moist. In more direct alpine sun or hot dry lowland climates, increase soil moisture accordingly. This, like many other columbine, can be a short-lived. Thankfully, the plants gently self-sow in the garden.
Colorado blue columbine is deer resistant and easy to grow. It is ideal for woodland gardens and partially shaded mixed borders. After blooming it offers no ornamental appeal, so it should be planted among garden plants that look pretty later in the season.
Characteristics
-
AHS Heat Zone
7 - 1
-
Plant Type
Perennial
-
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
-
Height
18"-24" / 45.7cm - 61.0cm
-
Width
12"-18" / 30.5cm - 45.7cm
-
Bloom Time
Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer
-
Native To
Western United States, Europe
Ornamental Features
-
Flower Interest
Showy
-
Flower Color
White, Blue
-
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Tan
-
Foliage Color (Spring)
Blue Green
-
Foliage Color (Summer)
Blue Green
-
Foliage Color (Fall)
Yellow Green
-
Fragrant Flowers
No
-
Fragrant Fruit
No
-
Fragrant Foliage
No
-
Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
-
Flower Petal Number
Single
-
Repeat Bloomer
No
-
Showy Fruit
No
-
Edible Fruit
No
-
Showy Foliage
No
-
Foliage Texture
Medium
-
Foliage Sheen
Matte
-
Evergreen
No
-
Showy Bark
No
