Eastern Red Columbine

Aquilegia canadensis

flower

Eastern red columbine is a delicate native wildflower of eastern North American woodlands, and one of the most charming spring perennials for a shady garden. From a mound of soft, blue-green, clover-like foliage it lifts wiry stems of nodding, bell-shaped flowers in mid-spring, each a striking combination of red sepals and spurs with yellow centers and a puff of golden stamens. The long nectar spurs are made for hummingbirds, which arrive just as it blooms, and it is also worked by long-tongued bees. A short-lived perennial, it self-sows politely to keep itself going, drifting naturally through a woodland or cottage garden.

✅ Plant alongside

Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests

• Patriot Hosta — Bold hosta leaves fill in around the airy columbine in the same light shade after the columbine finishes blooming
• Palace Purple Coral Bells — Purple foliage that sets off the red-and-yellow flowers and shares the woodland-edge conditions
• Bearded Iris — Adds upright sword foliage and late-spring bloom nearby in a part-shade cottage planting

🛡️ Pest & disease prevention

Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts — tap a name with an arrow for its full guide

• Leaf miners →

  They tunnel pale trails in columbine leaves, but this native species is notably resistant - simply remove any disfigured leaves; the plant shrugs it off

• Aphids →

  Cluster on new growth and buds - rinse off with water and encourage ladybugs

• Powdery mildew →

  Can coat leaves in humid weather - give airflow and cut back affected foliage, which often regrows clean

🌸 Blooms & cutting

Columbine makes a delicate woodland cut flower - snip a few stems in the cool morning as the nodding flowers open for an airy, informal arrangement. The main task in the garden is deciding how much it spreads: leave some of the upright seedpods to ripen and scatter if you want it to self-sow and persist (it is short-lived, so this keeps it going), or snip the pods off before they open to keep a planting in bounds.

🥗 Nutrition & benefits

A native ornamental of real wildlife value - the spurred spring flowers are a key early nectar source for ruby-throated hummingbirds and long-tongued bees, timed to the hummingbird migration, and it supports native pollinators in a woodland or cottage garden.

⚠️ Toxicity & safety

Columbine seeds and roots contain compounds that are mildly toxic if eaten in quantity and can cause stomach upset; the flowers are far less of a concern. It is not a danger to handle or grow around - just do not eat the seeds or roots, and keep pets from chewing them.