# 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! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 9 - **Habitat:** Mountain regions ![blue columbine](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Aquilegia_coerulea.jpg&width=800) Photo: Ejohnsonboulder, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aquilegia_coerulea.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Ranunculales - **Family:** Ranunculaceae - **Genus:** Aquilegia ## 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 - **Long Nectar Spurs:** Blue columbine has long nectar spurs that reach deep, attracting long-tongued pollinators like hummingbirds for successful reproduction. - **Rocky Resilience:** Blue columbine can grow in rocky, dry soils, helping it survive and thrive in harsh mountain environments. - **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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/bell-shaped-flower): Bell-shaped flowers possess petals fused or arranged to form a cup-like or campanulate structure resembling a bell. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Mountain](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/mountain): This habitat trait identifies species found in mountainous regions, characterized by high elevation, steep slopes, and varying climate zones. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look at flowers but don't touch them without asking an adult. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify blue columbine? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### 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 ## Where to spot - [Independence](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/independence) — Colorado, US · Neighborhood - [Telluride Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/telluride-historic-district) — Colorado, US · Historic District - [Betty Ford Alpine Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/betty-ford-alpine-gardens) — Colorado, US · Botanical Garden - [Grand Canyon Inn and Campground](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/grand-canyon-inn-and-campground) — Arizona, US · Historic Site - [Grand Canyon North Rim Headquarters](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/grand-canyon-north-rim-headquarters) — Arizona, US · Historic District - [Holzwarth Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/holzwarth-historic-district) — Colorado, US · Historic District [View all places to see blue columbine](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/blue-columbine) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Blue Columbine: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-columbine)