How to Grow Columbine

About Growing Columbine Fowers in Your Home Garden

Columbine is an easy-to-grow plant. Hardy perennial Columbine plants are native to Asia, Europe, and North America. If you are a hummingbird lover, growing Columbine is for you. It is a favorite of hummingbirds and bees because the flowers contain lots of nectar.

Columbines produce large, showy blooms of single and bicolor patterns on airy plants with blue-green foliage from late spring to early summer.

Flower Colors: Colors include shades of yellow, white, pink, blue, purple, and combinations.

Flowers Bloom: Spring/Summer

The plants grow well in flower beds, containers, as edging, and in rock gardens.

Did you Know? Columbine is the state flower of Colorado. They are also called the “Rocky Mountain Columbine”. They can be found almost to the timberline of the Rocky Mountains.

Plant Height: 18″ – 30″

Popular Varieties: McKana’s Giant, Tequila Sunrise

Perennial, Aquilegia hybrida

Perennial Columbine Flower Propagation

Columbine flowers are grown from seed. Columbine seeds can be directly seeded into your flower garden.

Sow Columbine seeds in the spring, and cover with 1/8″ soil. Space seeds or seedlings 16-18″ apart.

If you have established plants, Columbine can also be separated by division in the spring.

Days to Germination: 8 – 15 days.

Did You Know? The word Columbine comes from the Latin word for Dove.

How to Grow Perennial Columbine Flowers

Columbine is very easy to grow. They grow well in partial shade to full sun.

The plants grow well in average, well-drained soil. They tolerate dry soil conditions. Mix in a layer of compost at planting time, especially if the soil is poor

Add a general-purpose fertilizer once or twice a season.

Keep the plants weeded, especially when young.

Plant Spacing: Space plants 1 to 2 feet apart. They tolerate a little crowding.

Garden Tip: Deadhead blooms to promote new flowers.

Once your Columbine plants are established, they will grow well and bloom until frost. Being very hardy, they will likely survive the first light frosts before going dormant for the winter. They do not require mulching or protection in the winter.

Ideal Soil pH: 6.0 – 7.0.

Also, See:

Plant Problems – causes and cures

Insects and Plant Disease

Columbine are resistant to insects and disease. If insect or disease problems occur, treat early with organic or chemical insect repellents and fungicide.