Out
On A Limb / June 2006
Gold and Scarlet Spurs
Delicate and graceful, columbines are amazingly hardy and unusually adaptable. Steadfast flowering perennials, columbines thrive in all zones in the United States and in many temperate areas in other parts of the world. Their dainty, elegant flowers vary from one to three inches across and range in color from the softest pastels to deep, rich scarlets and purples, or contrasting combinations. An easily recognized, well loved North American wildflower, columbines belong to the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae and the genus, Aquilegia. Native to Asia, Europe and North America, columbines are a diverse group of plants, with about 70 species in the wild.
Their common name comes from the Latin word columba, meaning “dove,” in reference to how the spurred flower of some species resembles a small flock of birds. The scientific name for the genus, Aquilegia, is from the Latin word aquila, or “eagle,” supposedly because the columbine’s quintet of spurs is like the shape of an eagles talons. A spur is a hollow, elongated tube extending from the petals or sepals of a flower, usually a reservoir for the nectar which is secreted by special glands inside the tube and collected in a knobby bulge at its base. In recent years, scientists have determined that the floral spurs play a major role in the increase of species of flowering plants. Impatiens, violets, and larkspurs have spurs, but only one per flower. Columbines have five of them holding a rich nectar, making columbines a great favorite among hummingbirds. The size of the spurs–and the flowers -vary with the species. Larger columbine flowers tend to have longer spurs; smaller, double-flowered varieties mostly have short ones, and one columbine, Aquilegia escalcarata, has only pouches.
All species are easily grown and require minimal care to bloom profusely in spring and early summer. Spring Song, Dragonfly, Music and Fairyland are common hybrids, with names reflecting the airy nature of the plant.
Discovered in 1820 by a mountain climber in Colorado, in 1899 columbines were designated at the official Colorado state flower. State laws were eventually passed prohibiting anyone from picking columbines on public land or on private land without the owners consent and from picking more than twenty five in a single day. The Rocky Mountain columbine, A. caerulea, grows from 12-36 inches tall with fragrant light blue and white flowers about two inches across.
The Western Columbine, Aquilegia formosa, is native to California, Utah, and Alaska and blooms with red and yellow flowers that has deep red, straight spurs.
European columbine, Aquilegia vulgaris, with nodding flowers of blue, purple, pink or white, has short, curved spurs and grey-green foliage and is sometimes called “Granny’s Bonnet”. The European columbine is the source of numerous horticultural varieties and wild plants.
Aquilegia Longissima, native to Texas and Mexico, has profusely blooming, showy pale yellow flowers with narrow spurs four to six inches long. Canada Columbine, Aquilegia canadensis is the common species native to Eastern states. Its leaves are dark green and the drooping flowers are yellow with straight, red spurs. The Golden-Spurred Columbine is one of the largest columbines, growing three to four feet high with erect, lovely yellow flowers one to three inches across. McKana’s Giant, a tall, graceful hybrid with long spurs, sports 3-inch flowers in a wide range of vivid colors.
Columbines prefer filtered or dappled shade and moist, well drained soil, but they can tolerate full sun if they have sufficient water, and average soil if a little organic matter has been added, or even dry soil conditions with a general purpose fertilizer once or twice a season. Grown from seed, sown in the garden in spring, they will bloom 12-15 months later. Seeds need sunlight exposure to germinate, so they shouldn’t be buried more than 1/8” deep. The light exposure they tolerate varies with daytime temperatures–with warmer temperatures, they need more shade.
Resistant to insects and disease, columbines don’t even require mulching or winter protection. Feeding usually isn’t necessary and overfed plants tend to fall over. Established plants may be divided, but columbines, even with their long taproot, do not like being moved. Most species freely seed themselves and generously crossbreed. Offspring may not match their parent.
Small or tall, single or double bloomers, from creamy pastels to the richest tones, columbines bring color and grace to any garden. PL
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