The Western Columbine is a herbaceous perennial native to western North America from Alaska to Baja California. It grows 1-3 feet tall and wide, with delicate blue-green foliage and large, showy red and yellow flowers from spring to summer that attract hummingbirds. It prefers partial shade and moist, well-draining soil and is suitable for woodland gardens or under trees where its flowers and foliage can be appreciated.

1. * Western Columbine – Aquilegia formosa (a-kwi-LEE-jee-a for-MOH-suh)
Family: Ranunculaceae (Buttercup Family)
Native to: Much of western N. America from AK to Baja. In CA, many areas but not on the southern
coast; moist places in many plant communities including, Chaparral, Mixed-evergreen Forest and
Riparian Woodland (along rivers & creeks; near lakes).
Growth characteristics: herbaceous perennial mature height: 1-3 ft. mature width: 1-3 ft.
Mounded herbaceous perennial that dies back to the ground with summer drought (will be evergreen
with some water). Leaves blue-green, delicate, almost fern-like. Very attractive foliage. Note:
seeds and roots of all Columbines are toxic when eaten.
Blooms/fruits: Blooms spring-summer; usually May-July in western L.A. county. Flowers are very
attractive, large and typical for columbines. Flowers are red and yellow, held on slender stems. This
is a very showy plant in bloom – and the flowers attract hummingbirds.
Uses in the garden: Best in a woodland garden, where it benefits from partial shade. Great under
trees, including in the dry shade under native oaks. Great for north-facing walls. Lovely massed or
as single specimen plant. Grow it where you can enjoy the flowers and the hummingbird visitors.
Plants were used medicinally in small quantities by Native Californians.
Sensible substitute for: Non-native columbines; other shade-loving perennials.
Attracts: Excellent hummingbird habitat. Small seed-eating birds such as sparrows and Juncos
enjoy the seeds.
Requirements:
Element Requirement
Sun Part-shade to quite shady; great in dappled sun
Soil Well-drained soils best (in nature grows in rocky soils) but will tolerate clays;
pH: 4.0-8.0 (any local soil, including those amended to acidify)
Water Best with regular water (Zone 2-3) but will take Zone 2 (occasional water);
tolerates winter flooding in well-drained soils.
Fertilizer Fine with an organic mulch (leaf mulch)
Other
Management: Easy to grow. Prune flower stalks to the ground in early spring. Self-sows freely;
deadhead if you do not want volunteer seedlings.
Propagation: from seed: easy. Don’t cover seed.
Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 11, 13, 14, 16, 24 1/31/11
* Native to CA but not to Western L.A. Co. © Project SOUND