How to Grow Columbine

Columbine’s carefree manner makes it an excellent choice for the garden, especially for those who like an informal garden. Hummingbirds love columbine, making this a good addition to any bird-lover’s garden. Columbine blooms in late spring to early summer and has a long bloom season. The leaves are comprised of three lobes and form clusters that offset the blossoms, which droop from gracefully arching stems. The flowers are usually bi-colored and come in a wide variety of color combinations. Columbine grows 2 to 3 feet tall and about 18-inches wide. Columbine is a hardy, easy to grow plant that is susceptible only to leaf miners. Leaf miners leave trace work trails on the leaves, which do not hurt the plant.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

things you’ll need:

• Columbine seeds or potted plants
• Rake
• Trowel or spade
• Watering can or hose

Start Columbine by Seed

1. Loosen the soil with a rake.
2. Sprinkle seeds where they are wanted.
3. Lightly cover and water.
4. Keep moist.
5. Thin the seedlings to a distance of 12 to 18 inches apart, once seedlings emerge and are hardy.

Transplant Potted Columbine

1. Dig a hole deep enough to bury the root ball.
2. Remove plant from pot. Separate and spread out roots carefully.
3. Place plant in the hole. Gently pack the soil around the plant.
4. Water the plant thoroughly. Water regularly until the plant is established.

General Requirements

1. Know your Zone. Columbine is a hardy perennial (perennial means it comes up every year from the same rootstock) and can survive in temperatures as low as -30º to -40ºF (USDA Hardiness Zone 3).
2. Avoid warmer temperatures. Columbine does not do well in warmer zones. The warmest zone in which columbine will grow well is Zone 8, where temperatures still dip below freezing in the winter.
3. Keep columbine in fertile well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade. Full sun is best in cooler climates and partial shade is better for hot climates.

Tips & Warnings

• Columbine self-seeds easily. If you do not want unexpected plants or plants that are different from the original, be sure to deadhead the plants before they go to seed.

• To extend the blooming season, deadhead the plants to encourage new blossoms.

• Columbine is a short-lived perennial and lasts only 3 to 4 years. As a result, it should not be necessary to thin or divide the plant.

• If you do not like the look of leaves with leaf miner tracings, remove the infested leaves and completely destroy them to rid yourself of the pest. Fertilize the plant to encourage the growth of new, healthy foliage.