Western Columbine
Aquilegia formosa. RANUNCULACEAE.
Planting and Growing Western Columbine
You’ll find everything you need to know to plant and grow western columbine in the accompanying table’s tabs:
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- Flowers, foliage, and root structure of western columbine
- Plant hardiness and growing conditions for western columbine
- Season of bloom and planting time for western columbine
- When, how deep, and where to plant western columbine
- How to plant western columbine
- Watering, fertilizing, care and pests or diseases of western columbine
- Landscape and container uses of western columbine
- Comments about western columbine and its features
Growing Western Columbine
Many cultivars of graceful, upright, open perennials, 2–3 ft. (60–90 cm) tall. Fine-textured, light silvery green, feathery or lobed leaves, to 3 in. (75 mm) long, in 2–3 lobed groups, to 8 in. (20 cm) wide.
Common cultivars include Aquilegia formosa ‘Nana’ and ‘Rubra Plena’.
Planting and Care Guide
Blooms
Showy, blue, pink, white, yellow, bicolored, cup-and-saucer-shaped flowers, 1–2-1/2–in. (25–63–mm) wide and to 6 in. (15 cm) long, with trailing, feathery spurs, in early summer.
Best Climates
Hardy. Zones 3–10.
Soil Type and Fertility
Moist, very well-drained, sandy humus. Fertility: Rich–average. 6.5–7.5 pH.
Where and How to Plant
Spring in sun to partial shade, 1–2 ft. (30–60 cm) apart, after soil warms.
Proper Care
Easy. Keep moist during active growth; reduce watering after flowers fade. Fertilize semi-monthly during growth; dilute liquid fertilizer to half its recommended rate. Propagate by division, seed.
About This Plant
Good choice for borders, containers, massed plantings in natural, wildlife, woodland gardens. Attracts bees, birds, butterflies, hummingbirds. Aphid, leaf miner and powdery mildew, rust, wilt disease susceptible.