Columbine (Aquilegia) Photos of My Garden

It’s columbine season in the Santa Cruz Mountains, and my girlfriend asked my how I get my columbine to grow so well.

Well, here’s my secret: I have no idea.

I didn’t plant them. They might have shown up in another plant’s pot or on the wind. Normally I would blame my friends the birds, but Columbine seeds are highly poisonous—their roots as well. 

I wont go so far as to say that they’re invasive, because I love them so much. My dirt just happens to be Nirvana for the beautiful aquilegia.

 

The Latin word “aquila” means eagle, and they have this name because the shape of the flower is supposed to look like an eagle’s claw.

 

I don’t just have one variety, but several. They just keep popping up year after year. I never know what kind or what color will show up next.

Columbine are perennials but they die back after they bloom.

They propagate by seed. When they go to seed, I collect them and broadcast them in other parts of my garden

 

Columbine prefer some altitude. I’m at about 700ft. They thrive here, however there are some varieties that thrive at 10,000 ft. I get altitude sickness at 10,000 ft. so I don’t really care.

  They are woodland plants, and they grow wild in woodland and mountainous areas. It is best to plant them in dappled shade or partial sun. Try to choose a spot that is sunny in the morning and lightly shaded in the afternoon, perhaps near trees. They don’t do well in the hot afternoon sun.

 
You can plant your columbine in average soil and it is so hardy that there is no need to mulch or protect it during winter.

Comments

[Wendy]

Columbines are one of my favorites and their "invasiveness" is just a bonus. I think I planted ONE and it was pink. Somehow, purple and white ones came out of nowhere. No idea how they got there, but who was I to complain? Yours are doing very well, I see. :-)

[chigiy]

Hi Wendy,
I love this time of year. I love when all the Columbines are in bloom, all those beautiful flowers that we didn't plant. It's been really cool this year so they are still blooming.