Canada's Columbines (Aquilegia spp.)
Columbines are popular perennials amongst gardeners thanks, in part, to their versatility and interesting flowers. Their availability in many colours is another winning attribute. If you are considering growing them on your property, why not try one of our native Canadian species. The stunning reds, yellows and blues of their flowers give a lift to one’s spirits as well as providing nourishment for hummingbirds and other pollinators.
Wild columbines are easily suited to both formal garden beds as well as informal rock or woodland garden settings. They make an attractive combination with other woodland natives such as Solomon’s seals, foamflowers, Virginia bluebells or violets. They also look stunning growing in large patches all on their own.
Uses
Image: Sarah Coulber
In her book Wildflowers of the American West, Rose Houk mentions that columbines were used in medieval times to ward off the plague, and that teas were made from the leaves and roots to help ease stomach upset and from the seeds of one species for headaches and fever.
(Caution: We are not recommending the use of these plants for medicinal or food purposes. Many plants are poisonous or harmful if eaten or used externally. The information on food and medicinal value is only added for interest. This information has been gathered from books and its accuracy has not been tested.)
Propagation
Wild columbines self-seed easily, but if you wish to help things along, gather seeds from your plants or from a reputable nursery (see our link for native plant and seed suppliers) and sow outdoors in late summer. If you wish to sow them indoors in the spring, stratify them first by placing in the freezer for about three weeks, in a container with a moist towel, although not everyone finds this step necessary. Plant them on the surface of your soil — do not cover as these seeds need light.
Care
Columbines typically do best in partial shade with rich, well-drained soil. However, this plant is also known to grow in full sun under drier conditions. The Calgary Zoo’s Botanical Garden grows Aquilegia in its rock garden. I myself have seen this species spread itself around my parents’ property in areas with shallow dry soil and full sun. It doesn’t get as large as those found in woodland edges or clearings with better soil, but it did well enough to catch my eye and incite an appreciation for its delicate beauty.
Eastern wild columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)
- Native to: seSask., sMan., Ont., Que., Nfld., N.B. and N.S.
- Habitat: rocky woods and open areas such as woodland edges
- Appearance: Grows from 0.3 – 0.9 metres (one to three feet) tall with red and yellow flowers that are typically nodding.
Sitka columbine (A. formosa)
- Native to: southern Yukon, B.C. and swAlta.
- Habitat: moist to dry open areas such as streamsides, rocky slopes, woods and meadows at subalpine elevations (moist alpine meadows and mountain meadows)
- Appearance: up to about one metre (three feet) tall, nodding red flowers and short spurs
Yellow columbine(A. flavescens)
- Native to: B.C. and swAlta.
- Habitat: moist meadows, screes/slopes and acid rocky ledges at moderate to high elevations (up to just above timberline and higher than A. formosa)
- Appearance: a pale yellow flowering columbine with long spurs, sometimes with a pinkish tinge, blooming from late June to early August. Nodding flowers.
Jones’ columbine(A. jonesii)
- Native to: swAlta.
- Habitat: subalpine limestone screes and crevices
- Appearance: a low-growing plant that reaches five to 12 centimetres tall, with leathery, hairy leaves that bunch together to resemble coral. It has only one or two short-stalked flowers that are a blue and typically face upwards.
Blue columbine (A. brevistyla)
- Native to: the Yukon, B.C., Alta., Sask., Man. and central Ont.
- Habitat: This boreal forest species of columbine grows in rock crevices, meadows and open woods.
- Appearance: blue and white flowers, nodding/upright with short spurs