Red Columbine
Red columbine (Aquilegia formosa) is a flowering perennial which grows in moist openings, meadows, road sides, and in subalpine zones.
- Columbine grows from a taproot and stems reach 0.6 to 2 m in height.
- Short stems grow from the basal area which have 3 parted terminal leaves. Leafets often grow at the axils higher on the main stem.
- Nodding or hanging flowers with red petals and spurs and yellow blades have a distinctive and easy-to-identify shape. Clusters of yellow stamens and styles extend downward.
- Variations are common.
- All photos by the author. Click an image for a lightbox view.
- Follicles (capsules) form after flowering. They become wrinkled with age. Black (poisonous) seeds
- Columbines are pollinated by bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies. Moths and caterpillars feed on the leaves and stalks.
- There are more than 25 species of columbine, some of which are cultivars in our gardens.
- We have propagated columbine from seed, ensuring at least 4 weeks of stratification.
- It is sometimes called western columbine and it can be spotted throughout the western side of North America.
- I was first introduced to columbine while hiking through Garibaldi Meadows in 1968. Even as a teenager, I was fascinated by the complex shape and colorful display. I spot columbine in flower many times each season, but it remains a favorite.
Thanks, interesting! Spent a fair bit of time around Garibaldi Lake and Diamond Head at that time too…