Growing in Surprising Locations: Columbine

Gardeners, by nature (pun intended) are observant people. We revel in the beauty and diversity of the plants that grow in our climate.

One plant that literally pops up—growing in sidewalk cracks and the seams in retaining walls—is Columbine—Aquilegia Candensis, AKA Eastern Red Columbine, Canada Columbine, or Wild Columbine.

We love seeing these native plants blooming from April to June in partial shade to full sun in a wide range of soil types.

Columbine is a favorite of hummingbirds and butterflies, but deer don’t eat it and it vigorously self-seeds. All of these qualities lead to a proliferation of Columbine plants.

Seedlings can be readily pulled out; mature plants require some purposeful digging due to their deep tap route, a common, beneficial quality of native plants.