Aquilegia canadensis (Red Columbine)
| Also known as: | Wild Columbine |
|---|---|
| Genus: | Aquilegia |
| Family: | Ranunculaceae (Buttercup) |
| Life cycle: | perennial |
| Origin: | native |
| Habitat: | shade, sun; rocky woods and slopes |
| Bloom season: | May - July |
| Plant height: | 1 to 3 feet |
| USDA PLANTS database: | Minnesota county distribution map |
Pick an image for a larger view. Most image enlargements are 50-100KB, though some may be larger. See the glossary for icon descriptions.
Detailed Information
Flower: 
![[photo of flower]](/udata/r9ndp23q/red/red-columbine-100_5270.jpg)
5 upside down tubes fused at the tips into a bell shape. The spurs at the base of each tube are hollow. Color is red with yellow tips, but can range from pink-red to orange-red. A bundle of yellow stamens hangs down from the bottom of the bell. Flower is 1 to 2 inches long from the tip of the tube spur to the tip of the stamens.
Leaves and stem:
![[photo of leaves]](/udata/r9ndp23q/red/red-columbine-100_5130.jpg)
Leaves are compound in 3's, basal and alternating up the slender stem. Leaflets may be notched and/or lobed in 2 or 3 segments, to 2½ inches long and wide. The stem may be slightly hairy, especially on the upper part of the plant.
Fruit:
![[photo of pod]](/udata/r9ndp23q/red/red-columbine-100_5792.jpg)
5 to 7 erect green pod-like containers, each ½ to 1 inch long with a “tail” at the top. They split open at the side to release many shiny round seeds.
Where to buy native seed and plants
Map of native plant purveyors in the upper midwest
Help support this site by buying seeds & plants from these vendors. Tell them we sent you!
More photos
full size plant, about 30 inches tall
underside of a flower Photos taken at Long Lake Regional Park, New Brighton, MN, May 2007
Comments
Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it?
on: 2010-05-05 02:45:45
First buds arrived 5/1 along wooded trail leading to lake.
on: 2010-05-06 17:00:29
I have a few of these in my yard but none are blooming. Down around the marsh behind my house there is a small area where I have found at least 15 that are blooming and many more that are not. They are beautiful.
on: 2010-05-14 21:08:09
We took a walk on a park trail 5/14/10 and saw some Columbine. My sisters and I are obsessed with nature, so seeing this was like a dream come true! We took lots of pictures and then went home to identify it. It turns out, I had done a report about MN wildflowers so I knew all about them. They are SO beautiful!
on: 2010-05-24 15:22:01
tons of these blooming right now!
on: 2010-06-27 17:56:40
I saw some blooming along a bike path near Big Bog Lake.
on: 2011-05-13 16:54:01
Spotted a bloom begin to open today in the wooded area near the creek.
on: 2011-05-25 18:55:16
Found some beautiful blooms in a wooded area near a golf course.
on: 2011-05-27 20:43:44
These are starting to open...the hummingbirds are standing in line.
on: 2011-05-31 16:18:17
Blooming on the river banks.
on: 2011-06-11 15:32:06
These are abundant in the woods behind the barn just up from the creekbed.
on: 2011-07-15 13:43:16
Lots of this in the woods in Kaposia Park and Simon's Ravine Park in South St Paul. It was also very common in northern Minnesota (Voyager's National Forest, Chippewa National Forest, BWCAW) where I grew up.
on: 2011-07-25 00:42:05
We spent time as children at a family cabin on Elk Lake, and these grew freely in the light woods. We loved to eat the flowers because of the sweet nectar. But we learned to be careful of the bees - they liked it too!
on: 2012-04-09 08:21:06
I suddenly have these flowers growing on our patio and garden. Not sure what has caused them to make an appearance now (we have lived here for 5 years) but I was curious when I first saw the interesting leaves growing. I decided to wait to see what became of the plant and was pleasantly surprised to see these flowers bloom.
on: 2012-05-11 15:16:49
Found a columbine while on a walk through the woods on our land. Didn't know what it was until I came to this site and was able to identify it. What an amazing-looking little flower. Praise God for His beautiful creation!
on: 2012-05-16 19:40:44
Found plenty blooming right along the path. Very beutiful flowers.
on: 2012-06-04 19:24:42
We have lots of them here. They are indeed very beautiful.
on: 2012-07-22 17:14:41
We hiked the Caribou River trail and Temperance State Park last week and they were in bloom. Beautiful flowers.
Navigation
- Home
- BUY CARDS!
- What's Blooming
- Flowers by Color
- Flowers by Name
- Trees and Shrubs
- Ferns and Fern Allies
- Grasses, Sedges, Rushes
- Invasive Species
- Glossary
- Links
- About Us
- Contact
- Blog
Follow Minnesota Wildflowers
on: 2009-06-14 19:38:56
I have quite a few of these growing wild around my house in Scandia. Some volunteer right in the middle of a rocky path. Is there a trick for successful transplanting?