Golden Columbine is a herbaceous perennial in the Ranunculaceae family native to the western U.S.A. and Mexico. It is a spring bloomer with flowers that are good for cutting. It grows 2 - 3 ft. tall and wide. Each flower petal has a backward-pointing spur. The name comes from the Latin word for eagle in reference to the flower’s five spurs which resemble an eagle's talon. The specific epithet means with golden flowers and they have a slight fragrance. Propagation is done by seed as long as flowers are not deadheaded but will hybridize with other Columbines if grown too close together. It grows in full sun to part shade. It tolerates a wide range of soils with good drainage. If planting in clay soils, add sand to help with the drainage but keep the ground moist to prolong the look of the foliage. When the foliage declines, cut the plant to the ground. It is resistant to damage from deer or rabbits. Cutting the flower stalks may encourage further blooming. Plant in borders, rock gardens, cottage gardens, open shade gardens or naturalized areas. Also a good selection for a hummingbird garden. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Crown-rot can occur in poorly drained soils. This plant will not be very tolerant of the hot humid summer areas of the southeast. Consider growing Aquilegia canadensis instead. Spider mites and aphids may appear in hot and dry conditions. Plants may show stress and lose leaves when planted in too much sun in hot summer conditions. Foliage usually declines by mid-summer at which point it should be cut to the ground.
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.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight) | 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
Loam (Silt)
Soil pH
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage
Available space
3 feet-6 feet
Mature size
Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in. | Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Obovate; Palmatifid
Leaf margin
Lobed
Leaf feel
Smooth
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
The semi-evergreen fern-like green leaves have three leaflets with three lobes. The leaflets are 1.5 inches long
Flower color
Gold/Yellow
Flower value
Good Cut; Showy
Flower form
Spike
Flower shape
Tubular
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
The up to 3 inch long yellow flowers are held mostly erect and appear in spring with five pointed yellow sepals and five yellow petals with backward-pointing spurs. There are many yellow stamens in the center. Blooms April-Sept.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit type
Follicle
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Fruit is a green to dark grey follicle
Stem color
Green
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
Utah and Arizona to Mexico with a small population in Colorado
Distribution
AZ, CO, NM, TX, UT
Wildlife value
Attracts hummingbirds, butterflies and bees.
Attracts
Hummingbirds
Food & Medicine
Fruit type
Follicle
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Small Space; Woodland
Landscape theme
Cutting Garden; Fairy Garden; Rock Garden; Shade Garden