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Aquilegia caerulea (Rocky Mountain Columbine) is planted for its beautiful blue and white flowers. Native to the higher elevations of the intermountain West, is best suited to mountain gardens and areas of the West with cool nights.
Zones
3 - 8
Advantages
Attract Hummingbirds
Attract Birds
Deer Resistant
Native
Multiplies / Naturalizes
Good For Cut Flowers
Fragrant Flower / Foliage
Rabbit Resistant
Light Requirements
Morning Sun & Afternoon Shade
Full Shade
Water Tolerance
Low-Water
Mature Height
18" tall
Mature Spread
15" wide
Bloom Time
Late spring to early summer
Shipping Details
Shipping begins the week of August 28th, 2023 Learn More…
Item Package Size
Plant - 5" Deep Pot
SKU
HC014442
USDA Hardiness Planting Zones
To determine if a plant is sufficiently cold hardy, the USDA created numbered zones indicating winter low
temperatures; the lower the zone number the colder the winter.
If the coldest winter temperature expected in your area is -15°F (zone 5) then any plants rated zones 3-5 will
survive the winter temperatures in your area.
If you live in very warm winter areas (zones 9-11) plants with zones 3-4 ratings are not recommended. The lack
of freezing winter temperatures do not provide a time for winter dormancy (rest).
18" tall x 15" wide (seed propagated). Rocky Mountain Columbine is the state flower of Colorado and is treasured for its big blue and white flowers. A must for mountain gardeners, this plant is at its best in cool, higher altitude areas of the West. At lower elevations, place in cool shady beds that receive regular watering. Not recommended for hot, humid climates. Campanula rotundifolia makes a fine companion plant.
More Information
SKU
HC014442
Item Package Size
Plant - 5" Deep Pot
Common Name
Rocky Mountain Columbine
Botanical Name
Aquilegia caerulea
Zones
3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Light Requirements
Morning Sun & Afternoon Shade, Full Shade
Flower Color
Blue, White
Mature Height
18" tall
Mature Spread
15" wide
Bloom Time
Late spring to early summer
Ships As
Potted Plant
Soil Type
Compost Enriched Garden Loam Soil
Soil Moisture
Average
Advantages
Attract Hummingbirds, Attract Birds, Deer Resistant, Native, Multiplies / Naturalizes, Good For Cut Flowers, Fragrant Flower / Foliage, Rabbit Resistant
Ideal Region
West, Western Only, Suitable Above 7000 ft
Planting Time
Spring / Summer, Fall
Native To
North America
Ships To Canada
No
Planting Guides
Growing Aquilegia (Columbine) Aquilegia (Columbine) are native, shade loving perennials that provide ample nectar for hummingbirds. They are resistant to browsing rabbits and deer.
Preferred growing conditions
These perennials grow best in compost enriched garden loam and dislike clay.
Should be mulched in dry climates with most types of common mulch materials.
Prefer regular watering to keep the soil moderately moist, but too much water makes them floppy.
Plant in part sun (morning sun/afternoon shade) or dappled shade, although at high elevation (above 7,000 ft.) they will do fine in full sun with regular irrigation. Aquilegia chrysantha and A. desertorum are the most sun tolerant.
Prepare the soil with good quality compost (not bagged manure, it’s too salty) and Yum Yum Mix.
Special comments
Deadhead plants to prolong bloom, but leave some flowers to set seed.
Individual Columbine plants can be short lived (3 to 4 years), but they will colonize areas of the garden where they will live for many years.
Columbine propagate themselves by re-seeding. To keep them re-seeding true-to-type, it's best to plant each species separate from other species (at least 100 ft. apart or on other sides of your house) to keep the hummingbirds from cross-pollinating them to any great extent.
Garden care:
Fertilize Aquilegia once in fall with Yum Yum Mix and Planters II.
Leave plants standing over the winter and cut back to 1-2" inches above the soil in mid-spring when the plants begin to wake up.
If the foliage becomes damaged from leaf miners or becomes straggly during the heat of summer, cut the foliage back hard (2-3" above the ground) and the plants will re-grow fresh, clean foliage in late summer/early fall.
View more Planting Guides, or download our complete Planting Guide for tips on caring for your plants when you receive your order, as well as planting instructions for Perennials, Spring-Planted Bulbs, Fall-Planted Bulbs, Cacti & Succulents, Xeric Plants and more.
Shipping
Zone
Shipping Status
Zone 2
Shipping begins the week of August 28th, 2023
Zone 3
Shipping begins the week of August 28th, 2023
Zone 4
Shipping begins the week of August 28th, 2023
Zone 5
Shipping begins the week of September 4th, 2023
Zone 6
Shipping begins the week of September 11th, 2023
Zone 7
Shipping begins the week of September 18th, 2023
Zone 8
Shipping begins the week of September 25th, 2023
Zone 9
Shipping begins the week of October 2nd, 2023
Zone 10
Shipping begins the week of October 9th, 2023
As soon as your order is placed you will receive a confirmation email. You will receive a second email the day your order ships telling you how it has been sent. Some perennials are shipped as potted plants, some as perennial roots packed in peat. The ‘Plant Information’ section describes how that item will ship. All perennials and spring-planted bulbs are packaged to withstand shipping and are fully-guaranteed. Please open upon receipt and follow the instructions included.
Perennials and spring-planted bulbs are shipped at the proper planting time for your hardiness zone. Perennial and spring-planted bulb orders will arrive separately from seeds. If your order requires more than one shipment and all items are shipping to the same address, there is no additional shipping charge. See our shipping information page for approximate ship dates and more detailed information. If you have any questions, please call Customer Service toll-free at (800) 925-9387 or contact us by email.
Shipping Rates
Our shipping rates are calculated based on our actual average shipping costs. We do not seek to profit from shipping fees, so rest assured that our shipping rates reflect an average of what it costs to get our guaranteed products safely to your door.
US Shipping Charges
Merchandise Total
Shipping Charges
Up to $19.99
$8.99
$20 to $34.99
$10.99
$35 to $49.99
$12.99
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$14.99
$75 to $99.99
$16.99
$100 and Over
$18.99
Canadian Shipping Charges
Merchandise
Shipping Charges
Up to $24.99
$14.95
$25 to $49.99
$19.95
$50 to $74.99
$24.95
$75 to $99.99
$29.95
$100 and Over
$39.95
We charge one low flat rate for shipping our products even if your order requires multiple shipments. If you have any questions, please call us at (800) 925-9387.
 is planted for its beautiful blue and white flowers. Native to the higher elevations of the intermountain West, is best suited to mountain gardens and areas of the West with cool nights.)
