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Aquilegia coerulea

blue columbine

Ranunculaceae

Central and southern Rocky Mountains

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Attracts Hummingbirds Deer Resistant Container Friendly

Native to North America

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterMedium

HardinessZones 3–8

Overview

Aquilegia coerulea is a herbaceous perennial in the buttercup family, growing 1-2 feet (30-60 cm) tall, sometimes taller in rich sites, in an airy mounded clump. The blue-green leaves are divided into rounded, lobed leaflets on slender stalks, mostly near the base. From late spring into summer it carries nodding to upright flowers 2-3 inches (5-8 cm) across, each with five blue to lavender outer sepals, five white petals, and five long backward-pointing spurs that hold nectar. The flowers are pollinated by long-tongued bees, hawk moths, and hummingbirds, which reach the nectar at the spur tips. It grows in mountain meadows, aspen groves, rocky slopes, and open coniferous woods across the central and southern Rocky Mountains, from about 7,000 to 12,000 feet (2,100 to 3,700 m). The plant is the state flower of Colorado. It is short-lived, usually persisting three to four years, but reseeds where conditions suit it. It needs cool summers and moist, well-drained soil and struggles in hot, humid lowland climates. Leaf miners can disfigure the foliage in cultivation.

Native Range

Native to the central and southern Rocky Mountains of western North America, including Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, New Mexico, Arizona, Idaho, and Montana. It grows in mountain meadows, aspen groves, rocky slopes, and open coniferous forest at high elevations.

Suggested Uses

Used in cottage gardens, rock gardens, woodland edges, and native and pollinator plantings in cool climates, typically spaced 12-18 inches (30-45 cm) apart. It suits naturalistic mountain-style gardens and combines with other meadow perennials.

How to Identify

Identified by blue-green, twice-divided leaves with rounded lobed leaflets and large flowers 2-3 inches (5-8 cm) across with blue to lavender sepals, white petals, and five long straight spurs pointing backward. The long spurs and blue-and-white coloring separate it from red-and-yellow columbines and from short-spurred European species. Airy clumps of lacy foliage carry the flowers on slender stems.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height1' - 2'

Width/Spread1' - 2'

Reaches mature size in approximately 3 years

Colors

Flower Colors

blue

white

Foliage Colors

green

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~6 weeks

Spring Summer

Flowers from late spring into summer, generally June and July in the mountains, with bloom later at the highest elevations. Each plant flowers over several weeks as buds open in succession. Hummingbirds, bees, and hawk moths visit through the bloom.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

blue-green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 4-8 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.0 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam sand rocky

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

2-3 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Aquilegia coerulea grows in full sun to partial shade in cool, moist, well-drained soil and grows more strongly with afternoon shade in warm regions. It tolerates a soil pH from about 6.0 to 7.5 and grows in gritty, humus-rich mountain soils. The plant is short-lived but self-sows, so new seedlings replace aging plants over time. Steady moisture during growth and bloom keeps the foliage from scorching, while sharp drainage prevents crown rot. It needs cool summer nights and does poorly in hot, humid climates. Leaf miners may tunnel the leaves, and affected foliage can be cut back to prompt fresh growth.

Pruning

Cutting back tired or leaf-miner-damaged foliage after flowering prompts a flush of clean new leaves. Removing spent flower stems before seed forms limits self-sowing, while leaving a few allows new plants to establish. The plant dies back in winter and regrows from the crown in spring.