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Eastern Red Columbine

Aquilegia canadensis

Also known as: Wild Columbine

Early-spring nectar for returning ruby-throated hummingbirds. The flowers are a sweet, safe garden nibble; the seeds and roots are best left alone, since the buttercup family they belong to includes some mildly toxic species.

Family

Ranunculaceae

Type

wildflower

Lifespan

perennial

Height

2–3 ft

Spacing

1–1.5 ft apart

Light

part shade, shade

Soil moisture

dry, moist

Soil pH

alkaline

Bloom

February, March, April, May, June, July

Bloom colors

red, pink, yellow

Wildlife value

songbirds, butterflies, hummingbirds, pollinators

Landscape uses

border

Native states

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