Plant of the Month:

Columbine--Aquilegia chrysantha

Columbine is a clump-forming perennial that is grown not only for its flowers, but also for its lacy, green, blue-green or gray-green fern-like foliage. These plants flower during cooler weather during late spring and early summer. 

Flowers, up to three inches across, are bell shaped and usually have backward-projecting nectar-bearing spurs.  Plants are frost hardy and prefer a sunny location with some shade to protect them from the heat of the summer. 

Most Columbines are not long-lived.  Allowing spent flowers to form seed will ensure a crop of volunteer seedlings.

 Interesting Facts
Aquila is Latin for eagle.  This is how the name aquilegia chrysantha derives, as the spurs are said to look like a bird in flight.

Summary 

Type: Perennial 
Height: 24 to 36 inches 
Blooms: Late spring to early summer   Spread: 24 inches 
Light: Full sun to part shade Water: Average 
Hardiness: High 
Native: Yes 
Wildlife: Yes 

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