The Columbine (Aquilegia) is a mid-sized perennial from the buttercup family that plays a bit of a disappearing act. During the summer, it leaves behind some pretty low-key, wiry seed heads; by fall, it starts to fade away, and in the winter, it vanishes from sight completely. But don’t let that fool you! In late spring, the Columbine explodes into a breathtaking display of unique, spurred flowers that are truly in a league of their own.
When Do Columbines Bloom?
If you’re a fan of these beauties, you probably count down the days until spring. Their flowers are just so distinct and impossible to mistake for anything else. The magic usually happens between May and June. That’s when the Columbine sends up long, slender stems topped with a bounty of enchanting, spurred blossoms. Just a heads-up: if you’ve got a brand-new plant, don’t worry if it doesn’t bloom in its first year. These little guys often need a season to get settled into their new home before they’re ready to put on a show.
A Closer Look at the Blooms
The flowers themselves are quite the architectural marvel. They nod gracefully from their stems and are made up of two layers of petals. The outer layer curves upward, while the inner layer tapers back into a point called a “spur.” This unusual shape has earned the Columbine some whimsical nicknames over the years, like “Granny’s Bonnet” or “Columbine” (which comes from the Latin word for dove). Just as unique as the shape is the incredible color palette. You can find them in:
- Pure white
- Soft pinks
- Every shade of purple imaginable (some almost look black!)
- Deep blues
- Sunny yellows
- Bright oranges
- Rich bordeaux reds
The real showstoppers, though, are the varieties with double blooms or striking two-tone color combinations.
What Happens After the Flowers Fade?
Once the summer heat kicks in and the blooming season wraps up, the Columbine starts winding down for the year. This is when it develops its signature seed pods. If you let them be, they’ll scatter seeds everywhere, and you’ll have “volunteer” plants popping up all over next year. If you’d rather keep them from taking over the whole garden, just give the plant a good trim after it flowers. If the weather is just right and the plant is happy, you might even get a small second flush of flowers in the fall. After that, the plant calls it quits and retreats underground until next spring.
The Perfect Spot: Location and Care
To make sure your Columbines come back strong year after year, you’ve got to pick the right spot. These hardy perennials love a location that gets anything from full sun to partial shade—though they’re pretty adaptable and can handle a bit more sun if needed. As for the soil, they’re happiest in a spot that stays moist but drains well, ideally with plenty of organic matter and a bit of a sandy texture.
