Red Columbine
ExplorePlants
Red Columbine
aquilegia canadensis
The Red Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) is a captivating native wildflower that brings a splash of brilliant red and yellow to the woodland gardens and rocky slopes of eastern North America. Renowned for its delicate, nodding blossoms and fern-like foliage, this herbaceous perennial is a favorite among nature enthusiasts and botanists alike. Its unique floral architecture, featuring elongated, upward-pointing spurs, is an evolutionary marvel designed specifically to attract long-tongued pollinators like hummingbirds and specialized butterflies. Beyond its striking aesthetic appeal, the Red Columbine is highly adaptable, capable of thriving in both dappled shade and rocky, nutrient-poor soils. It provides a crucial early-season nectar source for returning migrating birds and emerging insects, making it an essential and beautiful component of its native ecosystems.
Habitat: Found in partially shaded, rocky woodlands, often growing on steep slopes or limestone outcrops.
Appearance
Red Columbine is easily identified by its distinctive, drooping, bell-like flowers that measure about 3 to 5 centimeters long. The blooms feature an outer ring of five upward-sweeping red sepals and spurs, which contrast sharply with the inner yellow petals. The long, hollow spurs contain a sweet nectar reward at their rounded tips. The plant's foliage is equally recognizable, consisting of compound, lobed, blue-green leaves that closely resemble ferns or meadow rue. The delicate, wiry stems typically grow 30 to 90 centimeters tall, often emerging dramatically from rocky crevices or shaded forest floors.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderRanunculalesFamilyRanunculaceaeGenusAquilegia
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
43
Interesting facts
Despite its delicate appearance, Red Columbine is incredibly tough and is often one of the first plants to colonize disturbed areas or rocky cliff faces where soil is scarce.
Native American tribes historically used crushed Columbine seeds to create perfumes, love charms, and traditional medicinal washes for various ailments.
The genus name 'Aquilegia' is derived from the Latin word for eagle, 'aquila', because the plant's distinctive nectar spurs were thought to resemble the talons of a bird of prey.
The plant's specialized floral shape physically restricts access to its nectar, ensuring only pollinators with exceptionally long tongues or beaks can reach the reward.
Special abilities
Ability
Nectar Spur Adaptation
Produces long, tubular nectar spurs that specifically cater to long-tongued or long-beaked pollinators, ensuring specialized pollination.
Ability
Chemical Defense
Contains cyanogenic glycosides in its foliage, rendering the plant toxic and highly unpalatable to deer, rabbits, and other mammalian herbivores.
Ability
Rhizomatous Regeneration
Utilizes a hardy underground rhizome system that allows the plant to survive harsh winter conditions or wildfires, quickly regenerating when spring arrives.
Measurements & details
- Length
- 30-90 cm
- Lifespan
- 3-5 years
Diet & Feeding
As a photosynthetic plant, it synthesizes its own food using sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water.
Primary Foods
- Sunlight
- Water
- Soil nutrients (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium)
- Carbon dioxide
Ecological connections
mutualism
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Archilochus colubris
Relies on the hummingbird for pollination, as the bird's long beak perfectly reaches the nectar at the end of the flower's spurs.
host plant
Columbine Duskywing
Erynnis lucilius
Serves as the primary host plant for the caterpillars of this specific butterfly species.
parasite
Common Eastern Bumble Bee
Bombus impatiens
Large bees may bypass the pollination mechanism by chewing holes in the spurs to steal nectar.
Traits
No trait badges are assigned for this object yet.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Collections for this object will appear here as more themes are added.
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
No special safety notes yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to identify Red Columbine?
The easiest way to identify Red Columbine is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.
How long is Red Columbine?
30-90 cm
How long does Red Columbine live?
3-5 years
What does Red Columbine eat?
As a photosynthetic plant, it synthesizes its own food using sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water.
Where is Red Columbine usually found?
Found in partially shaded, rocky woodlands, often growing on steep slopes or limestone outcrops.
Snap Map
Zoom in to split clusters and explore where this object has been snapped.
Loading map…
Recent Snaps
May 23, 2026
Canton Center Historic Districti
Photo attribution
no rights reserved
License: CC0 1.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
May 16, 2024
Morris Arboretumi
Photo attribution
(c) josephine schirling, some rights reserved (CC BY)
License: CC BY 4.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
Where to spot
Park37 sightings50 species
Pennsylvania, US
Bald Eagle State Forest
You might spot Mountain Laurel, Ghost Pipe, and Sweetfern.
View guide →
Park46 sightings50 species
Massachusetts, US
Bartholomew's Cobble
You might spot Maidenhair Spleenwort and Red Trillium.
View guide →
Park42 sightings50 species
Massachusetts, US
Bear Swamp
You might spot Eastern Newt, Purple Pitcher Plant, and Hobblebush.
View guide →
Park43 sightings50 species
Massachusetts, US
Berkshire Botanical Garden
You might spot Common Eastern Bumble Bee and Eastern Skunk Cabbage.
View guide →
Park47 sightings50 species
Iowa, US
Bixby State Preserve
You might spot Northern Maidenhair Fern and Wood Nettle.
View guide →
Park48 sightings50 species
Vermont, US
Bristol Downtown Historic District
You might spot Japanese Knotweed and Red-Bellied Woodpecker.
View guide →
