How to Care for Columbines

The columbine, also called aquilegia, is not difficult to grow or maintain. It is popular in flower gardens across the United States and produces a bloom that resembles a bell that comes in many colors, which is frequently visited by bees and hummingbirds due to the large amount of succulent nectar it produces. Columbines can flourish under a variety of conditions, grow to as high as three feet, and are native to North America, Asia and parts of Europe.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

How to Care for Columbines

1. Choose a location for your columbines that is in partial shade throughout the day. Although columbines are capable of existing where there is an absence of shade the plants do best where they receive morning sun and then wind up in the shade in the afternoon hours. Plant columbine seeds or seedlings in the spring time and space them as far apart as a foot and a half.
2. Pick a spot that is moist but drains well. The roots of the columbine go deep into the ground once the plant has been established so it is somewhat drought-resistant. Water the columbine during the dry spells. Columbines are a fine choice for rock gardens and flower beds.
3. Lay down a layer of mulch around a columbine plant that is 2 to 3 inches deep. The pruning of a columbine should take place in the spring before the plants begin to awaken and grow or in the late fall months after the first frost. As far as fertilizer is concerned it is usually not needed in rich soils but will help the plant in soils of average value.
4. Control the pests that attack columbines. Aphids can be knocked off with the spray from a water bottle; this will deter them from returning. Remove any leaves that appear to have tunnels in them as this is the work of leaf miners. Surround columbines with slug baits or diatomaceous earth to protect them from snails and slugs: a shallow container with old beer in it will lure slugs to their death by drowning.
5. Cut a columbine plant back after it has bloomed and the flowers have gone by. Prune the plant so that it is just 6 inches high. This will help to grow new foliage and allow the plant to thrive for the remainder of the growing season. The leaves of the columbine will turn shades of red and purple in the autumn, adding color to your garden area.