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Lavender companion · grow guide
Columbine · Aquilegia
Columbine likes part shade and moist, well-drained soil. Plants are often short-lived but reseed; expect to refresh them every few years.
Check my zone & planting dates
Part shadeLight
Moderate waterAverage drainage
pH 6.0–7.5Soil
Zones 4a–9bHardiness
24″ tall24″ wide
ResistantDeer · rabbits resistant
Mildly toxicPets
Huckleberry saysTell me where you grow and I’ll check if Earlybird Red White will thrive there.
Hardy in zones 4a–9b
Spring or early fall.
Your year with Earlybird Red White
When it arrives
Plugs are small and dry out fast. Water on arrival, keep in bright light, and harden off a week before planting. Pot 72-cell plugs into 3-4 in pots or plant directly once rooted. Columbine forms a taproot, so move plugs early and avoid repeated transplanting.
Spring or early fall.
Set the crown at soil level, the same depth it grew in the pot. It has a deep taproot, so plant where it can stay.
12-18 in apart.
Fertile loam or clay loam · pH 6.0–7.5
Fix-it tip: Add compost to sandy soil to hold moisture. In heavy clay, mix in compost and avoid low spots; crowns rot in standing water.
Part shade (tolerates full sun in cool areas; fairly deep shade).
Morning sun and afternoon shade is the sweet spot. Rocky Mountain columbine (A. caerulea) wants cool summers and good drainage.
Don’t give up on it
One of the first perennials up in spring; leaves may stay partly green all winter. Some foliage often looks ragged by late summer; that's normal.
Watch for sawfly larvae; enjoy early bloom.
Deadhead, then cut back ragged foliage after bloom.
Let a few seed heads ripen if you want volunteers.
No care needed.
First season: Keep soil lightly moist the first season; water weekly in dry spells.
After that: Moderate. Water in dry spells, especially in sun.
Light. A little compost in spring is enough; heavy feeding gives soft growth.
Deadhead to extend bloom and limit reseeding; hybrids won't come true from seed. Cut tired or leaf-miner-damaged foliage to the base after bloom; fresh leaves return.
Rarely needed. Deep taproot makes division hard; replace old plants or let seedlings fill in.
Very cold hardy (zones 3-8). No special care; leave foliage until spring.
Goes semi-dormant or tatty in heat and drought, especially in sun. A.caerulea dislikes hot, humid summers.
White squiggly lines in leavesLikely cause: Columbine leafminer
What to do: Pick off affected leaves; after bloom cut foliage back to the base and it regrows clean.
Leaves eaten to the veins overnightLikely cause: Columbine sawfly larvae
What to do: Check leaf undersides in late spring and hand-pick the green larvae.
Plant vanished after 2-3 yearsLikely cause: Columbine is naturally short-lived
What to do: Let a few flowers set seed or replant every few years.
Seedlings look different from parentLikely cause: Hybrids don't come true from seed
What to do: Deadhead to stop reseeding if you want to keep the original colors.
Crispy, browning leaves in summer mean too dry or too hot. Collapsing crowns mean too wet.
Not listed by ASPCA. Columbine is in the buttercup family, and its seeds and roots can upset the stomach if eaten. Discourage chewing; call your vet if a lot is eaten.
Deer: resistant · Rabbits: resistant
Finnegan saysStill not sure what’s wrong? Ask Plant Health — describe it or add a photo.
Good in pots · 1 gallon+
Grows well in pots in part shade. Use a pot deep enough for the taproot and keep it evenly moist.
Outdoor plant
Needs winter cold; keep outdoors.
Best after a cold winter
Classic columbines bloom best after a winter; some newer series are bred to flower the first year.
Plugs from the tray
3–4 inch pots for 3–5 weeks, until roots hold the soil
Garden bed or a 1 gallon potTime to move up? Slide the plant out: if white roots wrap the outside of the soil, it’s ready for the next size.
Planting with lavender
Give it its own spot
Best in a partly shaded bed with moister soil, such as a woodland edge. Lavender's hot, dry, lean bed is too harsh for columbine through summer.
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