Eastern Red Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)

Description

Eastern Red Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) is a beautiful early-blooming flower that is one of the first to provide nectar in the spring to bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Eastern Red Columbine is the larval host plant for the Columbine Duskywing Butterfly (Erynnis lucilius). This versatile plant from the Buttercup Family can tolerate a wide range of soil types and can be planted under pine trees. Eastern Red Columbine tends to be deer resistant, and is a good substitute for the non-native Bleeding Heart (Lamprocapnos spectabilis).

 

Light: Full Sun, Part Sun, Shade

Moisture: Medium to Dry

Soil Type: Well-Drained, Sandy, Loamy, or Rocky

Soil pH: 6-7.5

Average Height: 1-3 Feet

Flowers: Red/Yellow nodding flower with upward spurred petals

Bloom Time: April–June

Wildlife: Columbine Duskywing Butterfly (Erynnis lucilius)