Aquilegia caerulea (Rocky Mountain Columbine)

Native from Montana to Arizona and New Mexico, award-winning Aquilegia caerulea, commonly known as Rocky Mountain Columbine, features huge, 2-3 in. wide (5-7 cm), long-spurred, two-tone flowers with star-like, creamy white petals and violet-blue sepals and spurs. Bushy yellow stamens add a third color. Irresistible!

Native from Montana to Arizona and New Mexico, award-winning Aquilegia caerulea, commonly known as Rocky Mountain Columbine, features huge, 2-3 in. wide (5-7 cm), long-spurred, two-tone flowers with star-like, creamy white petals and violet-blue sepals and spurs. Bushy yellow stamens add a third color. Irresistible! The blossoms are upward facing, for a perfect display, and rise elegantly above a lovely fern-like, gray-green foliage. Blooming for 4-6 weeks in late spring to early summer, this perennial is Colorado's State Flower and a lovely addition in the shade garden!

  • Recipient of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society for its outstanding qualities
  • Free-flowering, this Columbine grows in a bushy, upright clump, up to 24 in. tall (60 cm) and 12 in. wide (30 cm). This perennial is generally short-lived but will self-seed prolifically to form large colonies in satisfactory growing conditions.
  • Performs best in full sun to part shade, in averagemedium moisturewell-drained soils. Seriously dislikes poorly drained soils! Richmoist soils in part shade are preferred. Do not let the soil dry out.
  • Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies, but is ignored by rabbits and deer!
  • Easy to grow, this plant is a welcomed addition to bedsbordersrock gardenscottage gardensshade gardens, or naturalized areas. This Columbine may also be grown in containers or window boxes, and it makes good cut flowers lasting up to 2 weeks in a vase!
  • Susceptible to leaf miner.
  • May be grown from seed sown directly in the garden in spring (after the danger of frost has passed).
  • Remove faded flowering stems to promote additional bloom. Cut to the ground when the foliage declines (around midsummer).
  • Contact with the sap may irritate the skin

Requirements

Hardiness 3
– 9

Heat Zones 1
– 7

Climate Zones 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, A1, A2, A3
Plant Type Perennials
Plant Family Aquilegia
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Late)Summer (Early)
Height 1'
– 2'
(30cm
– 60cm)
Spread 9"
– 1'
(22cm
– 30cm)
Spacing 9″
– 12″
(22cm
– 30cm)
Water Needs Average
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Cut Flowers, Plant of Merit, Showy
Native Plants United States, Midwest, South Dakota, Pacific Northwest, Idaho, Rocky Mountains, Colorado, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, Southwest, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico
Tolerance Deer, Rabbit
Attracts Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Garden Uses Beds and Borders, Patio and Containers
Garden Styles City and Courtyard, Gravel and Rock Garden, Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow