North Carolina Botanical Garden

Plant Index

Scientific Name:
Common Name:
Genus:
Family:

Aquilegia canadensis

Aquilegia canadensis L.

eastern columbine, red columbine, canada columbine

Synonym(s): Aquilegia australis, Aquilegia canadensis var. australis, Aquilegia canadensis var. coccinea, Aquilegia canadensis var. eminens, Aquilegia canadensis var. hybrida, Aquilegia canadensis var. latiuscula, Aquilegia coccinea, Aquilegia latiuscula, Aquilegia phoenicantha

Aquilegia canadensis (Eastern Columbine)

Image ID: 23404
Image by: Ware, Richard & Teresa
Image Collection: NCBG Digital Library

PLANT INDEX

ID_PLANT: AQCA
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Aquilegia canadensis
Include in WOTAS: 1
Publish to Web: 1
Last Modified: 2019-02-14

GENUS INDEX

GENUS CODE: AQUIL
GENUS SCIENTIFIC: Aquilegia
GENUS AUTHORITY: L.
GENUS COMMON: Columbine
GENUS SUMMARY: A genus of about 80 species, perennial herbs, of the Northern Hemisphere.
GENUS IDENTIFICATION: Identification notes: When in leaf, somewhat easily mistaken for Thalictrum or Enemion; look for old fruits.
GENUS REFERENCES: Whittemore in FNA (1997); Munz (1946)=Z; Tamura in Kubitzki, Rohwer, & Bittrich (1993).

FAMILY INDEX

FAMILY CODE: RANUNC
FAMILY SCIENTIFIC: Ranunculaceae
FAMILY AUTHORITY: A.L. de Jussieu 1789
FAMILY COMMON: Buttercup Family
FAMILY SUMMARY: A family of about 62 genera and 2450 species, herbs, shrubs, and vines, primarily of temperate and boreal regions. Classsification of subfamilies and tribes follows Wang et al. (2009). Subfamilies and tribes follow Wang et al. (2009).
FAMILY REFERENCE: Whittemore & Parfitt in FNA (1997); Wang et al. (2009); Keener (1977); Tamura in Kubitzki, Rohwer, & Bittrich (1993). [also see HYDRASTIDACEAE]

NCBG DESCRIPTIVES

INTRO: Erect perennial found in a variety of moist to dry habitats, including forests, woodlands and rock outcrops (often on calcareous or mafic soils).
STEMS: Stems slender, branched, smooth or hairy.
LEAVES: Leaves basal and alternate on stem, petiolate, divided into 3 leaflets to 1 1/2 in. long and wide, with each leaflet divided again into 3 lobed or toothed leaflets; white-waxy coating on underside.
INFLORESCENCE:
FLOWERS: Flowers in an open panicle, nodding on slender stalks; red and yellow, about 1 in. long, turned upside down so that the long spur at the base of each of 5 red petals points upward and the inner yellow parts point down; yellow stamens protrude and dangle.
FRUITS: Fruit a narrow, 5-parted follicle with ascending-spreading persistent styles.
COMMENTS: Visited by ruby-throated hummingbirds and some long-tongued bumblebees.
HEIGHT: 1-3 ft.

DURATION: Perennial
HABIT: Herb

LEAF ARRANGEMENT: Alternate
LEAF COMPLEXITY:
LEAF RETENTION: Semi-evergreen

FLORAL CHARACTERISTICS
SYMMETRY: Radial (Actinomorphic)
BLOOM TIME: February-June

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
	x	x	x	x	x	x

BLOOM COLOR: Red and yellow

White	Red	Pink	Orange	Yellow	Green	Blue	Lavender	Purple	Violet	Brown	Not Applicable
	x	x		x

FRUITING PERIOD:

DISTRIBUTION
HABITAT TYPE: Dry forests, Moist forests, Outcrops and glades
NATIVE RANGE: eastern North America

HORTICULTURAL
Plant Sale Text: This southeastern native perennial is easy to grow. The pale red and yellow flowers are borne above the foliage on loosely branched stalks. The pendant flowers are a favorite nectar source of hummingbirds. Eastern columbine is a showy addition to the garden whether planted in small groups or masses. It is an excellent choice for naturalizing as it often seeds in. And it supports up to 12 species of lepidoptera. Eastern columbine also makes an excellent cut flower. 1987 N.C. Wildflower of the Year.

Bloom Table Text: Eastern columbine is a perennial wildflower native to North Carolina. Aquilegia blooms in mid-spring and has a tendency to self-sow its seeds during the reproductive stage. Its flowers have red and yellow tubular petals with curved, knobbed spurs. The red color of the flower attracts insects and hummingbirds, whose long tongues can reach the nectar at the base of the long spurs. They were said to resemble the talons of an eagle (aquila in Latin) or a circle of doves (columba in Latin) drinking around a fountain. Eastern columbine also makes an excellent cut flower. 1987 N.C. Wildflower of the Year.

NCBG Location: Found throughout NCBG Landscapes.

Cultural Notes:

SOIL MOISTURE: Dry, Average
LIGHT EXPOSURE: Sun, Part Shade, Shade
MINIMUM HARDINESS ZONE: 3
MAXIMUM HARDINESS ZONE: 8
GERMINATION CODE: 2
WILDLIFE VALUE: Bee Friendly, Butterfly Friendly, Hummingbird Friendly
DEER RESISTANCE:

GRIM ACCESSIONS

acc_id	acc_num	acc_dt	coll_id	Action
2048	1986-1842			View
2257	1986-2082			View
2486	1986-2341			View
4256	1992-0412			View
7611	2000-0374	2000-11-20	0	View
9254	2019-0013	2019-11-11	0	View
9364	2021-0027	2021-04-05	0	View

GRIM COLLECTIONS

Coll_id	Project	Collection date	Collector	Action
1759	HORT	2005-01-01	Heiney	View
1802	HORT	2006-05-01	Bryan	View
1995	NPMD	2020-05-25	Adams	View
2608	NPMD	2022-06-01	Marzolf	View

GRIM PLANTINGS

plt_num	acc_id	loc_num	pers_num	inst_dt	Action
3320	2048	187	NCBG staff	1967-12-31	View
3321	2048	189	NCBG staff	1967-12-31	View
3322	2048	11	NCBG staff	1986-12-31	View
3323	2048	73	NCBG staff	1986-12-31	View
3324	2048	74	NCBG staff	1986-12-31	View
3325	2048	75	NCBG staff	1986-12-31	View
3326	2048	76	NCBG staff	1986-12-31	View
3327	2048	78	NCBG staff	1986-12-31	View
3328	2048	79	NCBG staff	1986-12-31	View
3329	2048	80	NCBG staff	1986-12-31	View
3924	2257	94	NCBG staff	1967-12-31	View
4228	2486	27	NCBG staff	1986-12-31	View
4229	2486	27	NCBG staff	1986-12-31	View
4230	2486	142	Liloia	1986-12-31	View
4231	2486	143	NCBG staff	1986-12-31	View
6584	4256	200	NCBG staff	1993-03-01	View
10729	7611	146	NCBG staff	0000-00-00	View
10730	7611	9	NCBG staff	1989-11-11	View
10731	7611	27	NCBG staff	1989-11-11	View
10732	7611	65	Liloia	0000-00-00	View
10733	7611	66	Liloia	0000-00-00	View
10734	7611	67	Liloia	0000-00-00	View
10735	7611	68	Liloia	0000-00-00	View
10736	7611	72	Liloia	0000-00-00	View
10737	7611	82	Liloia	0000-00-00	View
10738	7611	206	Liloia	0000-00-00	View
10739	7611	137	Liloia	0000-00-00	View
10740	7611	138	NCBG staff	0000-00-00	View
10741	7611	139	NCBG staff	0000-00-00	View
10742	7611	140	Liloia	0000-00-00	View
10743	7611	205	NCBG staff	0000-00-00	View
10744	7611	2	NCBG staff	1992-01-01	View
10745	7611	2	NCBG staff	1992-01-01	View
10746	7611	8	NCBG staff	1978-11-01	View
12378	9254	119	Briggs	2019-02-25	View
12497	7611	217	Liloia	0000-00-00	View
12498	7611	211	Liloia	0000-00-00	View
12499	7611	207	Liloia	0000-00-00	View
12571	9364	226	Wait	2020-06-25	View
12572	9364	227	Wait	2020-06-25	View
12573	9364	228	Wait	2020-06-25	View
12574	9364	229	Wait	2020-06-25	View
12962	0	198	MacIntyre	0000-00-00	View
13196	9364	38	Wait	2021-11-23	View
13210	9364	225	Wait	2021-11-23	View

USDA PLANTS DATABASE

USDA Symbol: AQCA
USDA Common Name: Red Columbine
Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)
Distribution: USA (AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV), CAN (MB, NB, ON, QC, SK)
Duration: Perennial
Growth Habit: Forb/herb

NATIONAL WETLAND INDICATOR STATUS

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:	FACU				FAC	FAC		FACU	FACU	FAC

This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 2016 National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.3 (Lichvar, R.W., D.L. Banks, W.N. Kirchner, and N.C. Melvin. 2016. The National Wetland Plant List: 2016 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2016-30: 1-17. Published 28 April 2016. ISSN 2153 733X). Regions: AGCP-Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain, AK-Alaska, AW-Arid West, CB-Caribbean, EMP-Eastern Mountains and Piedmont, GP-Great Plains, HI-Hawaii, MW-Midwest, NCNE-Northcentral and Northeast, WMCV-Western Mountains, Valleys & Coast

WEAKLEY FLORA

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Aquilegia canadensis
COMMON NAME: Canada Columbine, Eastern Columbine
SYNONYMY: [= C, FNA, G, K, Mo, Pa, RAB, S, Va, W, WH3; > A. canadensis var. canadensis - F, Z; > A. canadensis var. coccinea (Small) Munz - F, Z; > A. canadensis - S; > A. australis Small - S; > A. coccinea Small - S; > A. canadensis var. australis (Small) Munz - Z]
PHENOLOGY: Mar-Jun.
HABITAT: Forests, woodlands, rock outcrops, especially (though by no means entirely) on calcareous or mafic substrates.
COMMENTS: NS, QC, ON, MB, and SK south to Panhandle FL, s. AL, w. TN, c. AR, and se. OK; disjunct in Edwards Plateau, TX. One of our most familiar wildflowers. Disjunct populations in the deep South, on limestone in sw. GA and FL Panhandle, have been described as A. australis or A. canadensis var. australis; they need additional study.
RANGE MAP: Aquilegia canadensis.png

Key to Map Symbols

ABOUT FAMILY (Weakley Flora)
Ranunculaceae A.L. de Jussieu 1789 (Buttercup Family)
SUMMARY: A family of about 62 genera and 2450 species, herbs, shrubs, and vines, primarily of temperate and boreal regions. Classsification of subfamilies and tribes follows Wang et al. (2009). Subfamilies and tribes follow Wang et al. (2009).
REFERENCE: Whittemore & Parfitt in FNA (1997); Wang et al. (2009); Keener (1977); Tamura in Kubitzki, Rohwer, & Bittrich (1993). [also see HYDRASTIDACEAE]

ABOUT GENUS (Weakley Flora)
Aquilegia L. (Columbine)
SUMMARY: A genus of about 80 species, perennial herbs, of the Northern Hemisphere.
REFERENCE: Whittemore in FNA (1997); Munz (1946)=Z; Tamura in Kubitzki, Rohwer, & Bittrich (1993).

HERBARIUM RESOURCES

SERNEC: Find Aquilegia canadensis in Southeast Regional Network of Experts and Collections (if available)
UNC SERNEC: Find Aquilegia canadensis in University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Herbarium - Southeast Regional Network of Experts and Collections (if available)

WEB RESOURCES

USDA: Find Aquilegia canadensis in USDA Plants
NPIN: Find Aquilegia canadensis in NPIN Database
FNA: Find Aquilegia canadensis in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Aquilegia canadensis

IMAGE USE RECORDS

ID IMAGE: 23404 - Primary Image FloraQuest Plant Detail Page (Landscape Preferred)
ID IMAGE1: 8736 - Primary Image WOTAS
ID IMAGE2: 0 - Secondary Image WOTAS
ID IMAGE3: 23404 - Primary Image Plant Sale Sign (Landscape Only)
ID IMAGE4: 12281 - Primary Image New Plant Sale Label (Portrait Only)