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Plant Care Library

   
perennial

Golden Columbine

Aquilegia chrysantha

 

 
Golden Columbine (Aquilegia chrysantha) at Tagawa Greenhouse

Golden Columbine flowers

Golden Columbine flowers

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Height:  30 inches

Spacing:  14 inches

Sunlight:  full sun  partial shade  full shade 

Hardiness Zone:  3a

Other Names:  Canary Columbine, Granny's Bonnet, Crowfoot

Description:

Showy, golden yellow nodding flowers on slender stems with long, graceful spurs; makes for long lasting cutflowers; good for naturalizing partially shaded areas, also deer resistant

Ornamental Features

Golden Columbine features bold nodding yellow bell-shaped flowers with gold anthers at the ends of the stems from mid spring to early summer. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its ferny compound leaves remain bluish-green in color throughout the season.

Landscape Attributes

Golden Columbine is an herbaceous perennial with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its medium texture blends into the garden, but can always be balanced by a couple of finer or coarser plants for an effective composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and should be cut back in late fall in preparation for winter. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

  • Insects

Golden Columbine is recommended for the following landscape applications;

  • Mass Planting
  • Rock/Alpine Gardens
  • Border Edging
  • General Garden Use
  • Groundcover
  • Naturalizing And Woodland Gardens
  • Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Golden Columbine will grow to be about 24 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 18 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 14 inches apart. Its foliage tends to remain dense right to the ground, not requiring facer plants in front. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 6 years. As an herbaceous perennial, this plant will usually die back to the crown each winter, and will regrow from the base each spring. Be careful not to disturb the crown in late winter when it may not be readily seen!

This plant performs well in both full sun and full shade. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This species is not originally from North America.

Golden Columbine is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. With its upright habit of growth, it is best suited for use as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.

 
 
Hardiness Zone Plant Height Minimum Sunlight
Characteristics
Massing  Rock  Edging  Garden  Groundcover  Naturalizing  Container 
Applications
Flowers 
Ornamental Features