Columbines - A Quick Overview
Columbine flowers shoot upward from their nests of rich green foliage like colorful birds taking flight. Their colours burst at the apex of the stem, usually late into the springtime. Columbine plants offer robust leafy growth and their unique multi-coloured star shaped double rows of petals make them easily recognizable. Enjoy the complex beauty of these plants from the moment you step into the garden.
Columbines grow in well drained soil. Place them in baskets for accents, or use them as attractive borders throughout the garden. They grow to heights of 18 to 36 inches, depending on the variety, and often boast a spread of about 12 inches. Regardless of whether the soil is more sandy or loamy, columbine plants usually grow best when planted about six inches deep. Many gardeners prefer to plant them in bundles. This draws the eye to the collection of columbine flowers without distracting from other focal points in the collection.
These plants grow easily in zones 2 to 9. Just place them in partial to full sunlight for larger blooms and healthier growth. Columbines require only the most basic of pruning. Simply cut away any unhealthy leaves and new foliage will grow to replace them. While their blooms appear in the late spring and early summer, their foliage continues to offer colour to the garden even after the prime season.
When they appear, columbine flowers often attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Enjoy all the benefits of a lively garden by planting them in containers, as borders or in fields. Their versatile growth styles allow for easy inclusion into most gardens, and their complex flowers offer unique personalities to a range of spaces. Invite hummingbirds and other winged friends into your garden with these beautiful perennial blooms every year.
Welcome everyone who comes to visit with early summer columbines. If you're looking for a different size plant, something that blooms in the winter or something that attracts less animals - browse our
newest collection instead!
Columbine Flowers FAQs
Are columbines perennials?
Columbines are perennials in Zones 3 and above, and some columbines can handle even colder winters. With proper care, they'll come back for several years. If you live in a climate with cold winters, mulch over your columbines over winter to provide extra insulation in the frostiest months.
Where to plant columbines?
Columbines grow in well drained soil. Place them in baskets for accents, or use them as attractive borders throughout the garden. They grow to heights of 10 to 36 inches, depending on the variety, and often boast a spread of about 12 inches. Regardless of whether the soil is more sandy or loamy, columbine plants usually grow best when planted about six inches deep. Many gardeners prefer to plant them in bundles. This draws the eye to the collection of columbine flowers without distracting from other focal points in the collection.
How much sun do columbines need?
Columbines perform best in partial to full sunlight, so make sure they get adequate sun for larger blooms and healthier growth. We recommend giving them at least six hours of sun per day.
Do you need to prune columbines?
Columbines require only the most basic of pruning. Simply cut away any unhealthy leaves and new foliage will grow to replace them. While their blooms appear in the late spring and early summer, their foliage continues to offer colour to the garden even after the prime season.
How tall are columbines?
Columbines may stand at 10 to 36 inches tall, depending upon cultivar. While diminutive, native columbines like Alpine columbines grow to just a foot tall, giant columbine varieties can grow to nearly triple that size. Many columbine varieties have a spread of over half their height, so keep in mind the sprawling, nodding nature of these plants as you plan.
What is columbine bloom time?
Columbines bloom in late spring or early summer, and most varieties have a long bloom time. Many modern cultivars bloom for six weeks or more! After the flowers have faded, allow the columbines' foliage to remain intact. Not only is the plant storing energy for the next season, the foliage remains bright and attractive until fall.
Why plant Columbines?
When they appear, columbine flowers often attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Enjoy all the benefits of a lively garden by planting them in containers, as borders or in fields. Their versatile growth styles allow for easy inclusion into most gardens, and their complex flowers offer unique personalities to a range of spaces. Invite hummingbirds and other winged friends into your garden with these beautiful perennial blooms every year. Welcome everyone who comes to visit with early summer columbines.
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