Wild Columbine
Aquilegia canadensis

Wild columbine is a native perennial plant with nodding, bell-shaped, red and yellow flowers that bloom in spring and early summer.

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A closeup on a wild columbine blossom, which is a gradient of shades of red with yellow stamens sticking out and spots of yellow on the edges of some petals, in between the darker red ones that protrude more.
Eastern red columbine, also known as wild columbine, blooms in a conservation landscaping garden at the offices of the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay in Annapolis, Md., on April 13, 2022. (Photo by Will Parson/Chesapeake Bay Program)

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Appearance

Wild columbine has drooping, bell-shaped, red and yellow flowers with petals lifted upward. The flowers bloom in April to July and have many yellow stamens in the center. Wild columbine grows 1 to 3 feet tall.

Reproduction and life cycle

About two weeks after blooming, flowers go to seed. Mature seeds are black and are contained in a fruit capsule. New seedlings grow in spring.

Did you know?

  • Wild columbine is also known as red, eastern or Canadian columbine. It attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.
  • The seeds of wild columbine have been used to treat fevers, rashes, headaches, sore throats, other ailments and as love charms.
  • There are many columbine cultivars that come in various colors, including white and purple.

Sources and additional information

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