If you decide to bring columbines into your garden, you’re in for a treat. With just a little bit of luck, you’ll have these gorgeous spring perennials brightening up your yard for years to come. While an individual plant only lives for a few seasons, columbines are famous for being prolific self-seeders. In fact, they’re so good at spreading their seeds that you might actually have to thin them out occasionally! Once you invite them in, they tend to become permanent (and very welcome) guests.
The Lifespan of a Columbine
These multi-colored perennials are real showstoppers in the spring, showing off uniquely shaped, intricate blooms that add a whimsical touch to any flower bed. If you put a strong plant in the right spot, it can live for up to five years. Usually, you’ll start seeing those iconic spurred flowers in the plant’s second year. Since they are quite hardy, columbines retreat into their underground rhizomes during the winter and wait for the soil to warm up in the spring before popping back up.
Even with the best care, a columbine plant eventually runs out of steam—usually after about three years—and won’t sprout again. But don’t worry! You probably won’t even notice a plant is gone because columbines are so efficient at making sure there are plenty of “babies” ready to take their place.
Self-Seeding Secrets
Once the blooming season wraps up in the summer, the columbine develops seed pods at the end of its long stems, filled with tiny, elongated black seeds. When these pods ripen, they burst open and scatter seeds all over the place. The wind also helps give them a lift to new spots. If the seeds land in a decent location, you’ll see new little perennials popping up the following summer.
Of course, these “volunteers” don’t always grow exactly where you want them. If they’re in the way, you can simply transplant them or pull them up. If you want to keep things tidy, the easiest trick is to snip off the seed pods before they burst, or collect the seeds yourself to plant them exactly where you want them.
Location and Care Tips
If you find the “sweet spot” for your columbines, they’ll thrive for years. They are pretty tough plants, but they do appreciate a little TLC. Here’s what they need to really happy in your garden:
- Partial shade: They love being tucked under the canopy of trees or large shrubs.
- Sun: While they prefer shade, they can usually handle a sunny spot just fine.
- Soil: They like soil that is rich in humus, well-draining, and slightly limey.
- Food: Give them some organic fertilizer every now and then.
- Water: Make sure to water them during long dry spells.
- Winter protection: Young plants and those in containers appreciate a little extra protection during the coldest months.
- Pruning: Give them a good trim in either the fall or early spring.
