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Plants of red columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) on a rock.Dr. Thomas G. Barnes, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

(Aquilegia canadensis)
Columbine

Host Plant: Columbine Duskywing (Erynnis lucilius), Red-edged Acleris Moth (Acleris albicomana), and the Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus)

Nectar Plant: many insects including other butterflies, bees, and wasps.

Flower Color: red to yellow

Growth Habit: herbaceous perennial

Range in North America: Mid-western and eastern United States and Canada

Exposure: Prefers full sun to partial shade

Hardiness: Zones 3-8

Soil Requirements: well-drained soil that is moist but occasionally dry

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Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)

Plants of red columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) on a rock.
Plants of Columbine on rocks — Dr. Thomas G. Barnes, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Alternative Names

Eastern Red Columbine, Red Columbine, Wild Columbine, Canada Columbine

Description of Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)

Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis), a member of the Ranunculaceae (Buttercup Family), is a herbaceous perennial that grows from 0.5′ to 3′ tall and blooms with red flowers in the spring (April to June).  The fruits, which are follicles, mature in the summer.

Hosted Species

Columbine Duskywing (Erynnis lucilius)

Red-edged Acleris Moth (Acleris albicomana)

Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus)

Nectar Species

Many other insects use this species as a nectar source.

Habitat

This species often grows in shaded woods.

Range of Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) in the United States and Canada

Range map of red columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) in the United States and Canada.

Interesting Facts

The genus name, Aquilegia, comes from the Latin “aquila” meaning Eagle, referring to the resemblance of the flowers to Eagle Claws.  The species name, canadensis, is a Latinized name for the location of the described species.

Native Location

Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

Zone 3, Zone 4, Zone 5, Zone 6, Zone 7, Zone 8

Exposure Requirements

Full Sun, Part Shade/Part Sun

Plant Habit

Herbaceous

Soil Requirements

Dry, Medium, Moist

Hosted Species

Celastrina argiolus (Holly Blue), Erynnis lucilius (Columbine Duskywing)

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Columbine”

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