Rocky Mountain Columbine
Aquilegia caerulea. RANUNCULACEAE.
Planting and Growing Rocky Mountain Columbine
You’ll find everything you need to know to plant and grow Rocky Mountain columbine in the accompanying table’s tabs:
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- Flowers, foliage, and root structure of Rocky Mountain columbine
- Plant hardiness and growing conditions for Rocky Mountain columbine
- Season of bloom and planting time for Rocky Mountain columbine
- When, how deep, and where to plant Rocky Mountain columbine
- How to plant Rocky Mountain columbine
- Watering, fertilizing, care and pests or diseases of Rocky Mountain columbine
- Landscape and container uses of Rocky Mountain columbine
- Comments about Rocky Mountain columbine and its features
Growing Rocky Mountain Columbine
Several cultivars of graceful, upright, open perennials, 18–36 in. (45–90 cm) tall. Fine-textured, light silvery green, feathery or lobed, double-divided leaves, to 8 in. (20 cm) wide, in 2–3-leaflet groups, each to 3 in. (75 mm) long.
Common cultivars include Aquilegia caerulea, ‘Alba’, ‘Citrina’, and ‘Rosea’.
Aquilegia vulgaris is a closely related species with similar care needs.
Planting and Care Guide
Blooms
Showy, blue, white, rose, yellow, bicolored, cup-and-saucer-shaped flowers, 1–1/2–2-in. (38–50–mm) wide and to 2 in. (50 mm) long, with trailing, feathery spurs, in early summer.
Best Climates
Hardy. Zones 3–10.
Soil Type and Fertility
Moist, well-drained humus. Fertility: Rich. 6.5–7.0 pH.
Where and How to Plant
Spring in full to filtered sun, 4–6 in. (10–15 cm) apart, when soil is workable.
Proper Care
Easy. Keep moist; avoid overhead watering of foliage to prevent rust. Pinch stem tips when plant reaches 2–4 in. (50–100 mm) tall to promote bushiness and flowering. Propagate by seed.
About This Plant
Good choice for beds, edgings, fencelines, trellises in cottage, formal, meadow, wildlife gardens. Good for cutting. Attracts birds, butterflies, hummingbirds. Aphid, leaf miner, whitefly and rust susceptible.