Columbine Plants Suggested for Home Gardens

Coloradans who want to remember the students and teacher slain at Columbine High School could do so by planting columbines in their home Gardens this year.

The gesture is fitting considering that in 1899 school children voted columbine the state flower. The flower they had in mind is the Rocky Mountain columbine, Aquilegia coerulea. With its blue-violet petals and spurs, white cup and yellow center, it is a strikingly handsome flower. As those school children saw it, blue symbolized the sky, white the snow and yellow the state's rich gold mining history.

About one-third of the world's 70 species of columbines are native to North America, with the others fairly equally split between Europe and Asia. Most species can be successfully grown and flowered in our climate.

Columbine culture is as simple as buying a plant, digging a hole in any reasonable soil, planting and watering. The preferable location is a spot in the yard with at least a half day sun. This will encourage good bloom.

Most nurseries carry a good selection of both species and hybrid columbines. Because columbines are notorious for cross-breeding and self sowing, it is wise to see the flowers of the plants you purchase to avoid rogue plants bearing flower colors you don't want.

Columbines also can be started from seed, if you don't mind waiting a few years to see them come into bloom. Beware that the seed needs a cool and moist "winter" period before it will germinate. This can be accomplished by sowing outdoors in fall in the high country or in January along the Front Range.

The fact that columbines cross- and self-seed is probably a good thing, considering they are generally a short-lived perennial lasting only four or five years. This also makes them good for natural or wildflower Gardens. Note that most columbines tend to decline in hot weather.

In addition to the Rocky Mountain columbine, another favorite for Zone 4 to 5 Front Range elevations is the golden columbine, A. chrysantha. It's a vigorous grower and combines excellent heat tolerance with a long display of fragrant yellow flowers from late spring to early summer. It also reblooms well if deadheaded. This species is native to southern Colorado and New Mexico.

For high country or rock Gardeners, consider the high elevation native A. saximontana with blue and white flowers and hooked spurs. Another good choice is A. laramiensis, a white-flowered dwarf from Wyoming. Both are found readily at area nurseries and, just as with many alpines, should be grown in humus-rich but well-drained, gritty soil.

Columbines are not drought-tolerant plants and require regular summer watering to maintain green, healthy foliage. The biggest pests are aphids and powdery mildew. Both can be minimized by regular watering. Stunted foliage and misshapen flowers are sure signs of aphids that are handled easily with insecticidal soaps.

Columbines are one of the most elegant and architecturally interesting flowers. They are a natural for any Rocky Mountain Garden.

For more information on Gardening, contact your local Colorado State University Extension office.