Arizona Hummingbird Survey Nectar Plant Gallery: Western Red Columbine

Arizona Hummingbird Survey Nectar Plant Gallery

Click on images to enlarge Photos © 2006 by Sheri Williamson

Aquilegia elegantula
Western Red Columbine
Dainty red and yellow flowers nodding above lacy foliage make this a delightful addition to a mountain woodland nectar garden.

In the Wild:		In the Garden:
Plant type:	Perennial herb	Growth habit:	slender flower stalks above low, loose mound of foliage
Family:	Ranunculaceae (Buttercup)
Plant size:	6" - 12" high	Seasonality:	deciduous in winter
	6" - 10" wide
Flower color:	orange-red and yellow	Growth rate:	moderate
Flower size:	2" - 3"	Hardiness:	≤ 0 degrees F.
Bloom period(s):	Dry to Rainy (May-September)	Light needs:	part sun in cooler areas, full shade in warmer areas
Habitat:	understory of pine-oak woodlands and mixed conifer forest	Soil type:	rich, moist
		Moisture needs:	moderate to high
Distribution:	Coconino, Apache, Navajo?; also Utah, New Mexico, Colorado	Growing tips:	Easily grown from seed, but some mail-order nurseries sell young plants. Combine with larkspurs, monkshood, violets. Will hybridize with other columbines.
Legal status:	none