(Columbine)

The blooms of columbine are fanciful and delicate. Aquilegia is a genus of about 70 species that exist across northern temperate zones worldwide. Many are woodland plants and some are alpines. The species vary widely in size, habit and floral attributes.

Columbines are hardy clump-forming perennials that often grow from small slender woody rhizomes (underground lateral stems). The small delicate thin leaves appear in branches of three and often have three scalloped lobes. They appear...

(Alpine Columbine)

The beautiful, violet-blue flowers of Aquilegia alpina, or alpine columbine, have been cultivated since ancient times. Native to wooded mountain regions of Europe, it forms a low, spreading mound of delicate, lobed, blue-green foliage which somewhat resembles that of a maidenhair fern. Its large, nodding, cobalt-blue flowers feature contrasting, golden centers and rise well above the foliage on tall, wiry, branched stems from mid-spring through early summer.

Aquilegia alpina...

(Columbine, Dark Columbine)

An alpine columbine from Central Europe and the Alps, dark columbine offers loads of delicate plum-purple flowers in spring. Native populations inhabit rocky outcrops at high to medium altitudes, so this is an ideal species for rock gardens. Like most Aquilegia, this is a spring bloomer that offers little to no ornamental interest when not in bloom.

Columbines are hardy, clump-forming perennials that often grow from small slender woody rhizomes (underground lateral stems). The small...

(Ballerina Columbine, Columbine)

The fluffy, appleblossom- pink flowers of Aquilegia 'Ballerina' add a lively, feminine touch to the garden. Appearing in late spring to early summer, the airy, fully-double blooms are held gracefully on slender stems atop mounds of lacy, sea-green foliage.

Aquilegia ‘Ballerina’ performs best in dappled sun to partial shade and evenly moist, nutrient-rich soil with good drainage. It will readily cross with other columbine and self-sow if allowed to go to seed, which is considered...

(Biedermeier Columbine, Columbine)

Columbines in the Biedermeier Group share several traits. Their flowers are strongly bi-colored, long-spurred and their stems are moderately compact. In spring they put forth open mounds of three parted, soft green, lobed leaves. By late spring to early summer they bear erect stems of upward facing or nodding large spurred flowers that are strongly bicolored in an array of colors. Pretty golden stamens extend from the center of each flower.

Grow columbine in full sun to partial shade...

(Blue Jay Columbine, Columbine)

The large complex flowers of 'Blue Jay' are white and deep violet-blue and stand above sturdy and vigorous plants. This hybrid is derived from the McKana Group and Mrs. Scott-Elliot hybrids and was bred by Charles Weddle of Weddle Native Plants, Palisade, Colorado.

Like other hybrid columbine, it is a hardy clump-forming perennial that grows from small slender woody rhizomes (underground lateral stems). This perennial offers clusters of gray-green scalloped leaves that appear along slender...

(Blue Star Columbine, Columbine)

Aquilegia ‘Blue Star’ puts on a generous show of large, upfacing, long-spurred flowers of fresh, periwinkle-blue with contrasting white inner petals, which are held on delicately branched, wiry stems. The exquisite blooms are accented with sunny, yellow centers, and hover gracefully above compact mounds of lacy, blue-green foliage in mid- to late spring.

Aquilegia ‘Blue Star’ performs best in dappled sun to partial shade and evenly moist, nutrient-rich soil with good drainage....

(Bluebird Columbine, Columbine)

The large complex flowers of 'Bluebird' are ivory and blue and stand above sturdy and vigorous plants. This hybrid is derived from the McKana Group and Mrs. Scott-Elliot hybrids and was bred by Charles Weddle of Weddle Native Plants, Palisade, Colorado.

Like other hybrid columbine, it is a hardy clump-forming perennial that grows from small slender woody rhizomes (underground lateral stems). This perennial offers clusters of gray-green scalloped leaves that appear along slender three-parted...

(Columbine)

Naturally small from the start, perennial columbine offers great flowers and the vigor of a wild plant for adding charm to protected beds and borders. It is native to woodlands of Japan and is little cultivated as a species in the west. The foliage bears three part lobed leaves of lush green that resemble that of maidenhair fern in shape and texture. They are more densely held at the base of the plant, feathering out as they rise to flower. While plants are attractive during the bloom season, the...

(Calimero Columbine, Columbine)

The nodding, lantern-like flowers of Aquilegia buergeriana ‘Calimero’ feature an outer ring of plum-purple sepals with long, reflexed, inward-curving spurs, contrasted with inner petals of soft, creamy yellow. A selection of a low-growing, woodland species native to Japan, ‘Calimero’ was chosen for its more intense flower coloration. The dainty blooms appear on finely-branched, wiry stems above compact mounds of lacy, blue-green foliage from mid-spring through early summer.

Performing...