Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Ranunculaceae

Genus:

Aquilegia

Species:

Aquilegia desertorum

USDA Symbol:

AQDE

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Growth Habit:

Forb/herb

Height:

60 cm

Light Requirements:

Full Sun

Drought Tolerance:

Medium

Bloom Months:

apr,may,jun,jul

Bloom Colors:

red, yellow, orange

Wildlife Benefits

Bees:

★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)

Butterflies & Moths:

★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:

★★☆☆☆ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

hummingbirds, bees, butterflies

Deer Resistant:

Yes

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil

pH:

6.0 - 8.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)

Drainage:

excellent drainage required

Moisture:

dry to moderate

Notes:

native to arid desert regions

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

Cold/moist stratification required — 21–42 days

Germination Time:

14–30 days

Notes:

Seeds require light for germination; do not cover deeply. Cold stratification improves germination rates significantly.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI