blue columbine
ExplorePlants
blue columbine
Aquilegia coerulea
The blue columbine is a beautiful flower with delicate blue petals that look like little bells. It grows in the mountains and is loved by bees and butterflies!
Habitat: Mountain regions
Appearance
The blue columbine has striking, spurred flowers typically in vibrant shades of blue and white, sometimes yellow. Its delicate, fern-like leaves are a distinctive grayish-green, forming a compact clump, making it stand out.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderRanunculalesFamilyRanunculaceaeGenusAquilegia
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Hummingbirds love its long nectar spurs, hovering like tiny helicopters to sip the sweet treat!
Indigenous peoples once used parts of this plant for traditional remedies and teas.
Its scientific name, Aquilegia, means "eagle-like" because its backward spurs resemble talons!
The blue columbine is the state flower of Colorado, chosen by schoolchildren over 120 years ago!
Special abilities
Ability
Long Nectar Spurs
Blue columbine has long nectar spurs that reach deep, attracting long-tongued pollinators like hummingbirds for successful reproduction.
Ability
Rocky Resilience
Blue columbine can grow in rocky, dry soils, helping it survive and thrive in harsh mountain environments.
Ability
Springy Seedpods
Blue columbine has seedpods that snap open, flinging seeds a short distance to spread its offspring.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 30-90 cm
- Spread
- 30-60 cm
- Flower Size
- 3-7 cm
- Bloom Season
- Late spring to early summer
- Edible
- No
- Toxicity
- Mild
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Bird
Ecological connections
pollinates
Broad-tailed Hummingbird
Selasphorus platycercus
They seek nectar from its deep spurs.
eaten by
Columbine Leaf Miner
Phytomyza aquilegiae
Larvae tunnel and feed inside its leaves.
eaten by
Mule Deer
Odocoileus hemionus
Deer browse on its foliage and flowers.
pollinates
Western Bumblebee
Bombus occidentalis
Collects nectar and pollen, aiding reproduction.
Traits
Bell-Shaped Flower
Bell-shaped flowers possess petals fused or arranged to form a cup-like or campanulate structure resembling a bell.
Flowering
Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
Spring Blooming
Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth.
Fragrant Flower
Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Pollinator Magnet
Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
Mountain
This habitat trait identifies species found in mountainous regions, characterized by high elevation, steep slopes, and varying climate zones.
Keystone Species
Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Always look at flowers but don't touch them without asking an adult.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is blue columbine?
30-90 cm
How wide does blue columbine spread?
30-60 cm
How big are the flowers on blue columbine?
3-7 cm
When does blue columbine bloom?
Late spring to early summer
Is blue columbine edible?
No
Is blue columbine toxic?
Mild
What is blue columbine's lifecycle?
Perennial
How is blue columbine pollinated?
Bird
Snap Map
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