Eastern columbine is a native herbaceous perennial in the Ranunculaceae (buttercup) family. The genus name Aquilegia is derived from the Latin word for eagle as spurs at the back of the flower petals resemble an eagle’s claw. Wild columbine prefers partial shade conditions but will tolerate more sun with adequate moisture. It prefers organically rich, moist soil like that in its native forest home. It may grow 3 feet tall by 1.5 feet wide. The red and yellow flowers mature in early spring and can last one month. These tubular flowers attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and bumblebees. Once the flowers are gone the plant makes an attractive ground cover. When the foliage deteriorates it can be cut to the ground. Columbine freely self seeds, and new plants will bloom the second year. This plant was selected as the 1987 NC Wildflower of the Year , a program managed by the North Carolina Botanical Garden with some financial support from the Garden Club of North Carolina. Use this plant in woodland habitats, naturalized areas, shady garden borders, native gardens, or pollinator gardens. It is deer resistant. Quick ID Hints: Alternate leaves Leaves are deeply lobed Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Leaf miner is generally a problem for columbine, but this species is resistant. VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for " Annuals, Perennials, Vines, and Groundcovers " a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping; Erect
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Obovate
Leaf margin
Lobed
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
The leaves are ternately compound (divided into groups of 3 leaflets). Each leaflet is up to 3" long and 2" across. Leaflets are oval with deep rounded lobes, basal and alternate on the stem.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Pink; Red/Burgundy
Flower value
Showy
Flower shape
Tubular
Flower detail
1-2 inch flowers appear singly or groups of 2-3, are drooping, spurred, and bell-like. Red and yellow flowers have 5 petals, 5 petal-like sepals, and strongly exerted stamens and styles. Its spurs point upward. Blooms from March to May.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Brown/Copper; Green
Fruit type
Follicle
Fruit detail
5 pod-shaped follicles with long beaks that split open along one side to release the shiny black seeds. Displays from April to August.
Stem detail
stems are green to reddish-green and may or may not have hairs
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
North America
Distribution
AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , TX , VA , VT , WI , WV Canada: MB , NB , NS , ON , QC , SK
Wildlife value
Provides nectar to bumblebees, butterflies, hummingbirds and other pollinators. The seeds may be eaten by songbirds. Deer resistant.