Red Columbine

Aquilegia canadensis

Red Columbine is a perennial for edging, mid-border, suited to full sun to partial shade and clay or loam, flowering Apr, May, Jun.

Where to use it in a border

At around 60 cm, it sits best along the front edge, where a low, spreading habit reads best. Give it about 35 cm of room to spread, roughly 3 to the metre when planted in a drift. It is hardy across USDA zones 3a to 8a, so check it suits your area before planting.

It appears in our lists of shade, clay soil, pollinator-friendly plants.

Border Builder uses Red Columbine's height, spread, soil, bloom months and companions to place it in a full border plan for your own conditions, on iPhone and iPad.

Flowering through the year

Worth knowing

• It tolerates a shaded, north-facing spot.
• Not recorded as pet-safe; site it away from pets that graze if that matters to you.
• Its flowers are valued by bees and other pollinators.

Good companions

Plants that share its conditions and style, chosen to complement its place in the border:

• Blue Mistflowerto edge in front
• Cardinal Flowerto flower when it does not
• Wild Daffodilto flower when it does not
• Common Blue Violetto edge in front
• Golden Ragwortto edge in front
• Great Blue Lobeliato flower when it does not

Garden styles

Meadow Native Wildlife garden Woodland