How to Grow Columbine in 5 Steps: Columbine Care Guide

The columbine flower (Aquilegia) is an herbaceous perennial flower that is part of the buttercup (Ranunculaceae) family. Columbine flowers bloom in pastels and bright colors including orange, pink, yellow, and blue. Many varieties of this flower are characterized by a delicate, bell-shaped set of inner petals protected by a set of spurred sepals, or outer petals. Columbine plants can be grown in a range of climates and are easy to grow at home. They can grow up to three feet tall and two feet wide, are drought-tolerant, and deer-resistant. Columbine is a decorative flower that is not edible and is toxic to humans and animals.

There are over 70 species of Columbine flower. Here are some of the most popular ones.

1. 1. Columbine (Aquilegia vulgaris): Aquilegia vulgaris is native to Europe and grows in a variety of colors, but is most commonly seen in purple and white. Common names of this flowering plant include the common columbine, the European columbine, and granny’s bonnet after its nightcap-like shape.
2. 2. Canadian columbine (Aquilegia canadensis): Also known as wild columbine or eastern red columbine, the Canadian columbine is mainly found in eastern North America and has red petals and yellow pistils.
3. 3. Colorado blue columbine: Colorado blue columbine, also known as Rocky Mountain Columbine, is native to Colorado, and serves as their official state flower. It blooms with blue petals and yellow pistils.
4. 4. Golden columbine (Aquilegia chrysantha): This golden yellow flower has a slight fragrance and often grows in clumps. It is native to the southwestern United States.
5. 5. The McKana giant (Aquilegia hybrida). The McKana giant is a hybridized columbine flower that comes in a variety of different colors like red, purple, yellow, and white. They can grow up to three feet tall.
6. 6. Swan burgundy and white: This flower is characterized by long, spurred sepals in a deep burgundy color and white inner petals.

Depending on the type, columbine flowers generally thrive in USDA hardiness zones 3–8 and have a spring growing season. If you live in a more temperate climate, you can plant them in early spring, and if you live in a colder region you should wait to plant until mid-to-late spring after the first frost has passed. Though they are relatively hardy, they cannot tolerate extreme temperatures, and will grow best in a cooler climate—around 60 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit—and do not tolerate extreme heat.

To grow columbine flowers in your own garden at home, see the step-by-step guide below.

1. 1. Buy your seeds. Columbine flowers are the most durable when they are grown from seed. It is possible to propagate them from cuttings, but they are fragile and may be compromised when re-planting. Jump-start germination by chilling your seeds overnight right before you plant them.
2. 2. Choose your planting spot. You can container-grow columbine flowers inside or direct sow them into your garden. If you live in an especially cold climate, start your seed inside in a pot or container. If you’re planting in your garden, make sure that you’re choosing a spot with plenty of sun with partial shade to prevent your plant from drying out. If you live in a climate with particularly hot summers, the location should receive more shade than sun.
3. 3. Prepare your soil. Columbine thrives in well-draining soil that is rich in dark organic matter and is slightly acidic with a pH of 6.0–7.0. If you’re container-growing, make sure to choose a pot that is large enough to loosen up the soil for proper drainage.
4. 4. Sow your seeds. Lightly press clusters of three to four seeds into your soil surface, leaving them uncovered and exposed to the light. If you’re planting multiple clusters outside in your garden, keep each cluster around 12–24 inches apart, though dwarf varieties may need less space.
5. 5. Thin your seedlings. Keep the soil lightly moist after planting, and seedlings should sprout within about four weeks. Only keep the most promising seedlings, and thin them back to at least 10 inches to ensure adequate spacing. Keep in mind that even if growing your own columbines from seed, the plants will not flower until the second year.

Though columbine flowers usually live for only about three to your years, there are a few ways to maximize their growth potential. Here are a few tips to care for your columbine flowers.

1. 1. Water your columbine flowers mindfully. Columbine seeds and seedlings may need consistently moist soil as they’re growing, but once the plant is established, you can reduce the watering to once a week. Their roots cannot tolerate waterlogging, and it’s safer to keep the soil on the drier side rather than overwater your plants.
2. 2. Deadhead your flowers to avoid taxing your established blooms. Deadheading your columbine flowers is a way to help the established plants conserve energy, but it will also stop them from re-seeding themselves. If you don’t want columbine plants to self-sow, remove the spent blooms. You can even harvest the seeds and store the seeds yourself. However, if you want the flowers to plant themselves, leave the flower heads on until they self-seed.
3. 3. Check for pests and diseases. Columbines are susceptible to pests like leaf miners whose larvae eat through their leaves. Treat them with neem oil or other insecticides to stave off these pests. Powdery mildew is another problem that can plague columbines. Keep your plants aerated and only moisten the soil when watering them. Major problems can be treated with an organic fungicide.
4. 4. Cut down your foliage. In the fall, cut down your foliage to the ground, and keep the soil insulated with mulch. This will ensure your plants can survive the winter and bloom the following year.
5. 5. Fertilize. You can use a water-soluble fertilizer once a month to promote thicker foliage and more vibrant blooms.

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