Wild Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)

Wild Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)

Wild Columbine brings an almost unexpected level of beauty to shady spots in early spring. Its nodding, two-toned red and yellow flowers have a unique shape that’s unmistakable and hard to miss. The soft, rounded leaves grow in loose clusters, adding a gentle, layered texture that blends naturally into woodland gardens and prairie edges as it adapts easily to a range of light conditions, thriving in both shade and spots with direct sun.

The only species of hummingbird that nests in Wisconsin, the Ruby-throated Hummingbird, rely on Wild Columbine when they arrive here after a long migration from South America every spring, and only the hummingbirds' long tongues can reach the plant's nectar. 

Growing Conditions
Light: Shade to full sun
Soil: Dry to medium; well-drained, tolerates rocky soils
Height: 1–2 feet
Spread: 1–1.5 feet
Zones: 3–8
Bloom time: May to July

Wildlife Value
A magnet for Ruby-throated Hummingbirds (Archilochus colubris) and native long-tongued bees that can navigate its uniquely shaped flowers. While not a host plant for Wisconsin butterfly caterpillars, its nectar supports a range of pollinators in early summer.

Blooms Alongside: wild geranium (Geranium maculatum), blue wild indigo (Baptisia australis), Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica)