SafePlants

Golden Columbine (Aquilegia chrysantha) and Other Yellow Columbines

The genus Aquilegia, commonly known as columbine or granny's bonnet, encompasses about 60-70 species of perennial plants. Several species and hybrids of columbine are cultivated for their attractive flowers.

Considerations for Pets

• Columbines can have spurs that are long and could be enticing for pets to chew or play with.

Nomenclature and Taxonomy

• Scientific Name: Aquilegia chrysantha
• Common Names: Golden Columbine, Yellow Columbine
• Family: Ranunculaceae (Buttercup Family)
• Synonyms: Aquilegia flavescens syn A coerulea var flavescens A flavescens var miniana
• Other Species: Aquilegia hinckleyana (Texas Gold Columbine, Hinckley’s Yellow Columbine), Aquilegia flavescens (Yellow Columbine), Aquilegia canadensis (Canada Columbine), Aquilegia formosa (Western Columbine), Aquilegia caerulea (Swan Pink and Yellow Columbine)
• Cultivars: 'Yellow Queen', 'Origami Yellow', 'Origami Yellow and White', 'Denver Gold'

Distribution and Habitat

• Aquilegia chrysantha is native to the southwestern United States.
• Aquilegia flavescens is native to mountain meadows, open woods, and alpine slopes of the Rocky Mountains from Utah north, and also occurs in British Columbia and Alberta.
• Plants grow at elevations between 3,000 - 11,000 feet, usually along streams.

Morphology and Growth Habits

• Columbines are bushy perennials, growing one to three feet tall.
• Flowers can be 1-3 inches wide.
• The blades are pale yellow, 13 to 23 mm long, and the spurs are yellow.
• Stems are 10–70 cm.
• Leaves are glabrous to rarely puberulent with glandular petiolules; blades are twice ternate with ultimate segments 15–45 mm long.
• Some varieties have compact leaves and short flower stems (e.g., Jones' columbine).

Plant Characteristics

• Columbines come in many colors including red, yellow, white, blue, pink, or purple and can even be bi-colored.
• Aquilegia chrysantha features clear yellow flowers held.
• 'Texas Gold' Columbine features butter yellow blossoms, highlighted by graceful cups and long, dramatic spurs.
• 'Origami Yellow' Columbine has bright and cheery yellow flowers.
• Aquilegia canadensis bears red-and-yellow nodding blooms.
• Some varieties have long spurs.
• Some varieties have fragrant flowers.
• Blue-green delicate foliage forms tidy mounds.

Cultivation

• Columbine thrives in sun or partial shade in moist, well-drained soil.
• It combines excellent heat tolerance and mildew resistance.
• Makes a good cut flower.
• Drought tolerant.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• Golden Spur columbine attracts hummingbirds.

Resources

• Dave's Garden offers a community for sharing gardening tips and ideas.
• Monrovia provides details and information on their plants.
• Plant Delights Nursery is an award-winning mail order perennial plant source.