Canadian Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)
[ak-will-EE-jah kan-ah-DEN-sis]

Deciduous Perennial Upright, Clump-forming in the Ranunculaceae Family
Discover the allure of Aquilegia canadensis, where red and yellow blooms dance gracefully in the spring breeze. This native wildflower captivates with its unique beauty attracting hummingbirds, a must for any garden sanctuary.

Aquilegia canadensis, the wild or eastern red columbine, is a short-lived herbaceous perennial in the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae), native to woodlands, rocky slopes, and open ground across eastern North America. Its nodding, red-and-yellow tubular flowers -- five petals extending into upward-pointing spurs -- appear on wiry stems above lacy, ternately compound foliage. One of the earliest nectar sources for hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies each spring, it self-seeds readily and naturalizes into informal colonies over time.

Pros

  • One of the earliest, most reliable spring nectar sources for hummingbirds
  • Resistant to leaf miner, a common columbine pest, and largely ignored by deer and rabbits
  • Self-seeds freely to naturalize a woodland or native planting
  • Tolerates a wide range of light, from full shade to full sun

Cons

  • Individual plants are relatively short-lived, though self-seeding keeps a colony going
  • Foliage can look tattered by mid-to-late summer after bloom
  • Self-seeding can be vigorous and may need thinning in small beds
Why Like Wild columbine is one of the first native plants to bloom each spring, providing critical early nectar for hummingbirds just arriving from migration, along with bumblebees and butterflies -- it's also the larval host plant for the Columbine Duskywing butterfly. Deer- and rabbit-resistant and unusually untroubled by the leaf miner that plagues many other columbines, it self-seeds readily to form loose colonies in the woodland edges and rocky, well-drained sites it favors in the wild across eastern North America.
Highlights A true eastern North American native, wild columbine is often the very first plant blooming each spring to feed hungry hummingbirds and native bees. Its airy red-and-yellow flowers and lacy foliage suit both formal woodland borders and casual native plantings, and it asks for almost nothing once established.
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 12 - 36 inches tall. 12 - 18 inches wide.
Growth Rate Moderate
Sun Exposure Full Shade - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Medium
Zones 3a - 8b (Usually hardy to -40° F)
Tags Attracts Bees, Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Hummingbirds, Attracts Pollinators, Attracts Wildlife, Container, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Filler, For a Shady Spot, Full Shade, Full Sun, Good for Accents, Good for Beginners, Good for Borders, Good for Butterfly Garden, Good for Cottage Garden, Good for Cut Flowers, Good for Mass Planting, Illinois Native, Medium, Most Popular, Mounded, Native to North America, Naturalizing, Non-Allergenic, Normal Soil, Partial Shade, Partial Sun, Perennial, Prairie Garden, Rabbit Resistant, Shade Tolerant, Showy Flowers, Thrillers, Tolerant of Clay Soil, Tolerant of Moist Soil, Tolerant of Sandy Soil, Well-Drained Soil, Woodland Garden
Bloom Period April to June
Flower Color Blood Red/Yellow
Foliage Color Green
 

Most Popular Plants
 

Absolutely Easy Garden Recipes that include Canadian Columbine
 

More Info from Experts

Commonly Planted with...

Spring bulbs, hostas, and astilbe.
Want More photos of this plant? Try Google Image Search!
 


Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 04/13 - 10/04
2024 : 05/01 - 10/05
2023 : 04/13 - 09/30


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Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


Estimated Recipe Cost

The cost of this recipe's ingredients will vary depending on the season and the sizes and varieties you select.


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No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

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