Columbine plants are herbaceous perennials native to North America. They have delicate, bell-shaped flowers with five petals that come in a variety of colors including purple, white, pink, yellow, and blue. The flowers are typically borne on long stems and are attractive to hummingbirds and butterflies. The foliage is composed of deeply divided, feathery leaves that are often bluish-green in color. Columbine plants prefer cool, moist, well-drained soils and thrive in partial shade. They are easy to grow and require minimal maintenance.
Planning Your Garden With Columbine
As you plan your garden, it's important to think about the spacing, size, light, and nutrient requirements of all of your plant and how they'll grow together.
Some plants require more water than others, while other plants require dry soil. At the same time, some plants prefer full sun, and other plants need the shade to survive.
By studying what each plant requires and planning ahead where all of your plants will grow best, you can optimize your garden space.
| Life Cycle | Columbines are usually perennial plants, although some varieties are biennial. |
| USDA Zone | The USDA Hardiness Zone range for columbines is 3-8. |
| Cold Tolerance | Columbines (Aquilegia species) are generally hardy in USDA zones 3-9, meaning they can tolerate temperatures down to 25. |
| Days to harvest | Columbines typically take between 60 and 90 days to reach maturity and be ready for harvest. |
| Average size | The average size of a full grown columbine plant is between 12 and 24 inches in height and 12 to 18 inches in width. |
| Spacing requirements | Columbines prefer a sunny or partially shaded spot with well-drained soil. When planting columbines in the garden, space them 12-18 inches apart. |
| Sun tolerance | Columbines typically prefer partial shade and can tolerate full sun if they are provided with adequate moisture. Too much sun can cause the foliage to become scorched and can reduce flowering. |
| Shade tolerance | Columbines are known to be tolerant of both full sun and partial shade. They can tolerate some shade in the afternoon, but they need at least 4 hours of direct sunlight each day for best growth and flowering. |
| Water requirements | Columbines prefer moist, well-drained soil with a neutral to slightly acidic pH. They should be watered regularly, but not excessively, to ensure that the soil remains moist but not soggy. In hot weather, they may require more frequent watering. |
| Fertilizer | The amount of fertilizer you should use when growing columbines depends on the type of fertilizer you are using and the soil conditions. Generally, a balanced fertilizer with an N-P-K ratio of 10-10-10 is recommended. Apply the fertilizer at a rate of 1/2 to 1 pound per 100 square feet of garden area. |
| Soil pH | Columbines prefer a slightly acidic soil with a pH of 6.0 to 6.5. |
Why Columbine is Popular
People like to grow columbines because they are attractive, easy to grow, and provide a long bloom period. Columbines are also attractive to hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies.
Companion Plants For Columbine
Companion planting is a great way to maximize your garden space and get the most out of your plants. By planting certain plants together, you can help each other thrive. In some cases, you can even help each other repel pests.
Popular companion plants for columbine include:
Common Pests For Columbine
Plant pests are a common problem for gardeners. By understanding what pests are common for your plants, you can take steps to prevent them from damaging your plants.
When you grow columbine, keep an eye out for these common pests:
- slugs
- aphids
- caterpillars
- spider mites
USDA Zones
USDA zones are a popular way of determining which plants can grow in your area. Zones tell you when your average first and last frost date are, as well as how cold you can expect it to get in the winter.
Our site works best if you choose your zone from the list below. If you do not know your USDA zone, then you can use our zone map.
