Western Columbine
Aquilegia formosa
- Native to:
- Canada, Mexico, United States
Walter Siegmund (talk)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Ranunculaceae
- Genus:
- Aquilegia
- Species:
- Aquilegia formosa
- USDA Symbol:
- AQFO
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 90 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun,Part Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- may,jun,jul,aug
- Bloom Colors:
- red, yellow
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)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Bees: Fuzzy-horned bumble bee (Bombus mixtus), Two-form bumble bee (Bombus bifarius), Yellow head bumble bee (Bombus flavifrons) Hummingbirds: Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte anna), Broad-tailed Hummingbird (Selasphorus platycercus) Butterflies:Pale Swallowtail (Papilio eurymedon), Western Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio rutulus)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- hummingbirds, bees, butterflies
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- prefers soils with good organic content
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 21–30 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–30 days
- Notes:
- Seeds require light for germination; surface sow or barely cover. Germination can be erratic, extending over several weeks.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Seeded cones stored for 6 months in a cold walk-in cooler with soil surface kept moist
Establishment: Plant is not abundant but widely scattered in areas where soil retains moisture. Found in Pacific coast states, great basin states, Utah and Nevada.
Source: npn.rngr.net
ORGHPS Germination Guide: Sow @ 20C. Germinates within 3 months.