SEED ORDERS OVER $100 SHIP FREE!
Aquilegia canadensis

Columbine

$3.00 - $375.00

Packet
$3.00
1/8 oz.
$6.25
1/4 oz.
$10.00
1/2 oz.
$16.25
1 oz.
$25.00
1 lb.
$375.00

Bare Root Plants
Out of Stock

3 Pack
Out of Stock
Tray of 38
Out of Stock
Tray of 50
Out of Stock

Aquilegia canadensis, Columbine, also called Red or American Columbine, is one of the first plants to provide nectar in the spring for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Columbine is the larval host plant of the Columbine Duskywing. The colorful flowers are red flowing into yellow.  Besides being an early bloomer, Columbine will tolerate a large range of soil and sun types, so you'll have success with it in full sun as well as shade.  It can grow in pine tree areas and is deer-resistant.  The seeds of Aquilegia are shiny black and smooth - like tiny black pearls.  They can bounce on hard soil surfaces, aiding in their distribution.  Seed collection is easy (see photo).

Live Plant Shipping Table

Spring Fall Age/Size
Dormant Bare Roots
April/May October 1 year
Potted 3-Packs May/June September 2.5" wide x 3.5" deep pots
Potted Trays of 38* May/June N/A 2" wide x 5" deep plugs
Potted Trays of 50
May August 2" wide x 5" deep plugs
*This species is a choice in the Mix & Match - Create Your Own Tray!

Aquilegia canadensis - Columbine

Map Key

Present in state
Present but introduced in county
Present and native in county; not rare
Not present in state
Present and native in county; rare
Species extirpated (historic)
State or county listed as noxious
Present in state; exotic

This map shows the native and introduced (adventive) range of this species. Given appropriate habitat and climate, native plants can be grown outside their range.

8 Questions asked on Aquilegia canadensis

If grown from seed, will the columbine canadensis bloom the first year, or does it wait until the second year?
On average, it will bloom the second year, but depending on weather and other conditions, it may not bloom until year three.
If I order the bare root plants will they bloom the first year I have them?
Thanks for writing, Lisa. The bare-root plants that we ship are at least one full growing season old (some are older), so it is not uncommon for them to bloom in the year that they are transplanted. We cannot guarantee that they will, though, because even careful transplanting imparts some root shock, so, depending on the species, site and season, plants may take another season to settle into their new habitat before blooming.
Getting a site ready to plant columbine canadensis from seed this fall. PA, zone 6b. Specifically what month is recommended under germination code M? October, November, later?
Hi Zsuzsa. For you in PA, aim to plant after a hard frost. You want to truly be in a dormant season. I would say November. Good luck!
Best time to plant? I live in zone 2. Northern Wisconsin.
Hi George, The best time to sow seeds for this plant is in the fall. They will stratify over winter and germinate in the spring. The best time to plant live plants are as soon as you get them (shipping times indicated on the shipping table in the product description).
Hello! I’m interested in this plant because it seems to do well in clay soil and shade. I’m wondering though, will the foliage stay around into summer or will it die back/become distressed after blooming?
Hi Seth. Columbine is incredibly adaptable. The foliage typically stays green throughout the growing season, although it may become singed or distressed during a hot, droughty summer - especially if planted alone and in full sun.
I’ve planted Columbine from seed this winter. Should I plant an annual cover crop for this first year to keep weeds from taking over? Or will it send up plants with no blooms.
Hi Megan. As long as the seeds have experienced at least 60 days of cold, moist stratification, Columbine will produce top growth it's first year.
I sowed this last fall, and it's currently april 3rd and still no sprouting! The other established woodland plants have also not come up yet. When does this plant usually sprout for you?
Hi Cole. We're expecting to see our Columbine plants sprouting at the beginning of May moreso than the beginning of April. Native plants take a lot of cues from the local weather conditions; here in MN, our spring season is only just starting to warm up.
I’m new to gardening and am wondering when I should plant these seeds and if they can be sown directly in the soil. My zone is 6a.
Hello Clairissa, Hovering your mouse over the germination code(s) under the "Details" section of every species page will help you out. This species is germination code C(60) meaning it needs 60 days of cold/moist stratification (winter) in order to germinate in the spring. It is also germination code M, which means it germinates best if planted outdoors in the fall. You can read about our germination codes here: https://www.prairiemoon.com/how-to-germinate-native-seeds.html These are the codes we use to label plants in order for home gardeners to properly unlock a seed's dormancy for successful germination.

Seed

Growing your own plants from seed is the most economical way to add natives to your home. Before you get started, one of the most important things to know about the seeds of wild plants is that many have built-in dormancy mechanisms that prevent the seed from germinating. In nature, this prevents a population of plants from germinating all at once, before killing frosts, or in times of drought. To propagate native plants, a gardener must break this dormancy before seed will grow.

Each species is different, so be sure to check the GERMINATION CODE listed on the website, in the catalog, or on your seed packet. Then, follow the GERMINATION INSTRUCTIONS prior to planting. Some species don't need any pre-treatment to germinate, but some species have dormancy mechanisms that must be broken before the seed will germinate. Some dormancy can be broken in a few minutes, but some species take months or even years.

Seed dormancy can be broken artificially by prolonged refrigeration of damp seed in the process of cold/moist STRATIFICATION. A less complicated approach is to let nature handle the stratifying through a dormant seeding, sowing seeds on the surface of a weed-free site in late fall or winter. Tucked safely beneath the snow, seeds will be conditioned by weathering to make germination possible in subsequent growing seasons.

To learn more, read our BLOG: How to Germinate Native Seeds

Dormant Bare Root Plants

We dig plants when they are dormant from our outdoor beds and ship them April-May and October. Some species go dormant in the summer and we can ship them July/August. We are among the few still employing this production method, which is labor intensive but plant-friendly. They arrive to you dormant, with little to no top-growth (bare-root), packed in peat moss. They should be planted as soon as possible. Unlike greenhouse-grown plants, bare-root plants can be planted during cold weather or anytime the soil is not frozen. A root photo is included with each species to illustrate the optimal depth and orientation. Planting instructions/care are also included with each order.

Download: Installing Your Bare-Root Plants

Potted Plants

3-packs and trays of 32, 38, or 50 plants leave our Midwest greenhouses based on species readiness (being well-rooted for transit) and order date; Spring shipping is typically early May through June, and Fall shipping is mid-August through September. Potted 3-packs and trays of 38 plugs are started from seed in the winter so are typically 3-4 months old when they ship. Trays of 32/50 plugs are usually overwintered so are 1 year old. Plant tray cells are approximately 2” wide x 5” deep in the trays of 38 and 50, and 2.5" wide x 3.5" deep in the 3-packs and trays of 32; ideal for deep-rooted natives. Full-color tags and planting & care instructions are included with each order.

Download: Planting and Care of Potted Plants

*PLEASE NOTE: we are a mail order nursery and have no retail facilities, but you may pick up your order if prior arrangements are made. Pick up orders are subject to **MN Sales Tax.

US Shipping & Handling Charges

SEED $100.00 and under: $5.00
Retail SEED orders over $100.00 ship free!

Custom seed mixes or discounted seed sales over $100, add 5% of the total seed cost
(for orders over $1,000 a package signature may be required)

BARE ROOT and POTTED PLANTS $50.00 and under: $9.00
over $50.00: 18% of the total plant cost. (For orders over $1,000 a package signature may be required.)

TOOLS and BOOKS have the shipping fee included in the cost of the product (within the contiguous US).

**We are required to collect state sales tax in certain states. Your state's eligibility and % will be calculated at checkout. MN State Sales Tax of 7.375% is applied for orders picked up at our MN location. Shipping & handling charges are also subject to the sales tax.

Shipping Season

SEED, TOOLS and BOOKS are sent year-round. Most orders ship within 1-3 business days.

BARE ROOT PLANTS are shipped during optimal transplanting time: Spring (April-May) and Fall (Oct). Some ephemeral species are also available for summer shipping. Since our plants are field-grown, Nature sets the schedule each year as to when our season will begin and end. We fill all orders, on a first-come, first-serve basis, to the best of our ability depending on weather conditions beyond our control.

POTTED PLANTS (Trays of 32/38/50 plugs and 3-packs) typically begin shipping early May and go into June; shipping time is heavily dependent on all the species in your order being well-rooted. If winter-spring greenhouse growing conditions are favorable and all species are well-rooted at once, then we ship by order date (first come, first serve). We are a Midwest greenhouse, and due to the challenges of getting all the species in the Mix & Match and Pre-Designed Garden Kits transit-ready at the same time, we typically can't ship before early May. Earlier shipment requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

*We are unable to ship PLANTS (bare root or potted) outside the contiguous US or to CALIFORNIA due to regulations.

Delivery

We ship using USPS, UPS and Spee Dee. UPS and Spee Dee are often used for expediting plant orders; they will not deliver to Post Office Box numbers, so please also include your street address if ordering plants. We send tracking numbers to your email address so please include it when you order.

FOR MORE DETAILED SHIPPING INFORMATION, INCLUDING CANADA SHIPPING RATES (SEED ONLY), PLEASE SEE 'SHIPPING' AT THE FOOTER OF THIS WEBSITE.

Details

Seeds/Packet
250
Seeds/Ounce
25,000
Germination Code
C(60)
M
Life Cycle
Perennial
Sun Exposure
Full, Partial, Shade
Soil Moisture
Medium, Medium-Dry, Dry
Height
2 feet
Bloom Time
April, May, June
Bloom Color
Red
Advantages
Pollinator Favorite: butterflies, moths, bees, wasps, beetles
Bird Favorite: seeds, insects, fruit, nectar, nesting, perch
Deer Resistant
Highly recommended for home landscaping
USDA Zones
3-8
Plant Spacing
10-17"
Catalog Code
AQU02F