wild columbine

(Aquilegia canadensis)

Conservation Status
wild columbine
 
  IUCN Red List

not listed

     
  NatureServe

NNR - Unranked

SNR - Unranked

     
  Minnesota

not listed

     
           
Wetland Indicator Status
     
  Great Plains

FAC - Facultative

     
  Midwest

FACU - Facultative upland

     
  Northcentral & Northeast

FACU - Facultative upland

     
           
 
Description
 
 

Wild columbine is a 1 to 3 tall, erect, perennial forb that rises from a stout taproot and thin, woody rhizomes.

Basal leaves emerge in the early spring on long stems. The leaves are much shorter than the stems. They are divided into groups of 3 leaflets that are up to 3 long and 2 wide. Each leaflet is divided again into 3 triangular or wedge-shaped lobes. The lobes are often themselves divided into 2 or more secondary lobes that resemble large, rounded teeth. The leaflets may be stalked or unstalked, with both types occurring on the same plant. The upper surface of the leaf is hairless and may be somewhat covered with a whitish, waxy bloom (glaucous). The lower surface is glaucous and may be finely hairy near the base.

In the late spring stems are produced. The stems are slender, sparingly branched, hollow, cylindrical, and hairless, though they may be slightly hairy on the upper portion.

Stem leaves are alternate and similar to the basal leaves but smaller and on shorter stalks. They become progressively smaller with shorter stalks as they ascend the stem. The leaves are often tinged with red, sometimes just near the margins.

The inflorescence is a solitary flower or pair of flowers at the end of a branch.

The flowers are showy and hang downward at the end of a long, erect flower stalk. They are 1 to 2 long and to 1¾ wide. They have 5 petal-like, red, ¼ to ¾ long sepals, and 5 red and yellow petals. The tips of the petals are yellow and rounded. The base is a long, slender, erect or slightly-spreading, red nectar spur with a slightly-enlarged tip. Yellow stamens and styles project well beyond the petals. There is no fragrance.

The fruits are 5 erect pods, each to 1¼ long with a beak to ½ long.

 
     
 

Height

 
 

1 to 3

 
     
 

Flower Color

 
 

Red with yellow centers

 
     
 

Similar Species

 
 

Smallflower columbine (Aquilegia brevistyla) has smaller, blue and white flowers. The spurs are hooked at the tip. It has been recorded only in Clay County.

Purple meadow-rue (Thalictrum dasycarpum) is usually much taller. The leaves appear similar but are less deeply lobed.

 
     
 
Habitat
 
 

Dry. Woodland edges, river banks. Full sun to full shade.

 
     
 
Ecology
 
 

Flowering

 
 

May to July

 
     
 

Pests and Diseases

 
 

 

 
     
 
Use
 
 

 

 
     
 
Distribution
 
 

Distribution Map

 

Sources

2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 24, 28, 29, 30.

 
  6/13/2022      
         
 

Nativity

 
 

Native

 
         
 

Occurrence

 
 

Common

 
         
 
Taxonomy
 
  Kingdom Plantae (green algae and land plants)  
  Subkingdom Viridiplantae (green plants)  
  Infrakingdom Streptophyta (land plants and green algae)  
  Superdivision Embryophyta (land plants)  
  Division Tracheophyta (vascular plants)  
  Subdivision Spermatophytina (seed plants)  
  Class Magnoliopsida (flowering plants)  
  Superorder Ranunculanae  
 

Order

Ranunculales (buttercups, poppies, and allies)  
 

Family

Ranunculaceae (buttercup)  
  Subfamily Thalictroideae (columbines and meadow-rues)  
 

Genus

Aquilegia (columbines)  
       
 

Subordinate Taxa

 
       
       
 

Synonyms

 
 

Aquilegia australis

Aquilegia canadensis var. australis

Aquilegia canadensis var. coccinea

Aquilegia canadensis var. eminens

Aquilegia canadensis var. hybrida

Aquilegia canadensis latiscula

Aquilegia canadensis var. latiuscula

Aquilegia coccinea

Aquilegia phoenicantha

 
       
 

Common Names

 
 

American columbine

Canadian columbine

Canadian-columbine

Colorado columbine

columbine

eastern red columbine

honeysuckle

meeting-houses

red columbine

wild columbine

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glossary

Axil

The upper angle where the leaf stalk meets the stem.

 

Glaucous

Pale green or bluish gray due to a whitish, powdery or waxy film, as on a plum or a grape.

 

Rhizome

A horizontal, usually underground stem. It serves as a reproductive structure, producing roots below and shoots above at the nodes.

 

Sepal

An outer floral leaf, usually green but sometimes colored, at the base of a flower.

 
 
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Greg Watson

 
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Alfredo Colon

 
 

Red Columbine flower, Aquilegia canadiensis

 
    wild columbine      
 

Wayne Rasmussen

 
    wild columbine   wild columbine  
           
    wild columbine   wild columbine  
           
 

Wild columbine and wild blue phlox

 
    wild columbine      
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
 
 

Plant

 
    wild columbine      
           
 

Inflorescence

 
    wild columbine   wild columbine  
           
 

Flower

 
    wild columbine   wild columbine  
           
    wild columbine      
           
 

Leaves

 
    wild columbine   wild columbine  
           
    wild columbine      

 

Camera

     
 
Slideshows
 
  Aquilegia canadensis (Wild Columbine)
Allen Chartier
 
  Aquilegia canadensis (Wild Columbine)  
  Plant portrait - Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)
Identify that Plant
 
   
 
About

Published on Aug 14, 2014

A detailed look at characteristics of Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis). These images and narrative can help to accurately identify the plant during different seasons of the year.

 

 

slideshow

       
 
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Other Videos
 
  Minnesota Native Plant - Canada Columbine (Aquilegia Canadensis)
MNNativePlants
 
   
 
About

Published on Jun 9, 2013

This video shows the Canada Columbine, or Wild Columbine (Aquilegia Canadensis).

   
  MyNature Apps; Identifying Wild Columbine, Aquilegia canadensis
MyNatureApps
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on May 31, 2011

How to identify Wild Columbine, Aquilegia canadensis also known as Canadian or Canada Columbine, Eastern Red Columbine, wild columbine or honeysuckle. www.mynatureapps.com

   
  Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)
PrairieMoonNursery
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Jun 4, 2010

http://www.prairiemoon.com - An attractive plant at Prairie Moon Nursery which will attract hummingbirds, bees and butterflies.

   
  wild columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)
wvoutdoorman
 
   
 
About

Published on May 11, 2012

wild columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)

   

 

Camcorder

 
 
Visitor Sightings
 
           
 

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  Greg Watson
5/27/2022

Location: Eagles Bluff Park in La Crescent, MN

wild columbine  
  Wayne Rasmussen
5/20/2018

Location: Maplewood Nature Center

wild columbine  
  Wayne Rasmussen
5/19/2018

Location: Rice Lake State Park

wild columbine  
           
 
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