By MIKE RALEY WPTF Weekend Gardener
RALEIGH, N.C. (WPTF) – I’m sure at some point our WPTF Weekend Gardener crew has discussed the virtues of growing Eastern columbine (*Aquilegia canadensis*) in our North Carolina landscapes. It’s a fancy little flower on the list of native, hardy perennials we enjoy in North Carolina.
Columbine blooms from spring into summer. We’ve had some in our yard in the past. Unfortunately, they were displaced or just gave out years ago by who knows what. Maybe they got too much afternoon sun. At any rate, they didn’t self-seed, so they definitely weren’t happy.
Columbines are in the hellebore family and seem to like the mountain climes in North Carolina the best, though they will grow in all regions of the state. Rufus is all for those revelations!
There are some really extraordinary colors from which to choose. Some say columbine flowers are enchanting, with all of their multicolored angles and dimensions that seem to jump out at you. There are blue, white, yellow, red, lavender and pink combinations. We find more of the red-colored varieties in North Carolina.
Proficient at attracting pollinators, bees, hummingbirds, butterflies and such, this plant is relatively hardy, as well as deer and drought resistant. Deadhead when the flowers start to fade. You may cut them back in the fall if you are so inclined. The Extension Service folks tell me that columbine will make a nice ground cover in some regions of the state.
When you get around to planting your columbines, do so in the fall before the first frost. The bottom of the columbine crown should be near the surface or just below. Don’t plant the crown too deeply, or it will not bloom.
You will need to dig up the soil to a depth of several inches if you are transplanting. They should be spaced 1 to 2 feet apart. Columbines’ roots like to spread out. Incorporate some composted material, like North Carolina-based Daddy Pete’s.
The columbine will prefer a slightly acidic to neutral soil pH. Add a couple of inches of hardwood mulch, pine straw or pine bark chips to the base of the columbine to help hold moisture and protect the root system. There is no need to overdo it. Pull the mulch away from the base to protect it from insect pests.
Problems with pests are few and far between, however. Water the plant well and cover with native soil. In the winter, in most parts of the state, you can pull back the mulch. Columbine will grow 3 feet tall.
The experts at the NC Extension Service tell me there are a few cultivars you might discover at your local nursery. The Swan series, Little Lanterns, Denver Gold, Blue Star, Crimson Star and Corbett are among those available.
Columbine is found in mythology, the Bible and Shakespeare and is said to have medicinal qualities. What more could you ask for in a flower for your landscape?
As for the nicknames, columbine is referred to as “Grandmother’s Bonnet,” “Rock-bells,” “Honeybells” and “Jack-in-the-Trousers.”
By the way, columbine was chosen as the Wildflower of the Year in 1987. So get with it this fall and sow a few seeds in your landscape.