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Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis )

Columbine | Afton State Park, MN | View Enlarged Image

With its bell-like flowers, red above, yellow below, Columbine is one of the easier spring/summer wildflowers to identify. Its common name, we've heard, was given because botanists thought the patches of red flowers resembled a flock of doves. The five spurs at the top of the flower earned Columbine the latin name "Aguilegia", which likens the spurs to the talons of an eagle. It was because of this Latin analogy that Columbine was once considered for America's national flower, as its leaves were thought to look like the Bald Eagle's talons.

Despite its delicate appearance, Columbine is a hardy, native perrenial. It's a favorite of moths, butterflies, and hummingbirds, and is a great choice for native gardens. Many insects will also chew through the spurs to get at the nectar inside.

After pollination, Columbine develop clusters of slender, hanging seed pods. Once ripe, these pods tear apart, scattering tiny, round seeds. Locally, Afton State Park and Pine Point Park in Stillwater always have a bounty of Columbine. They grow well in gardens, though they are best cultivated from seeds. Please do not remove seeds, flowers, or rootstocks from parks or wild places.

Multimedia:

Columbine cluster | Afton State Park, MN

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