Jones' Columbine
Aquilegia jonesii
Also known as: blue limestone columbine
- Native to:
- Canada, United States
Matt Lavin (www.flickr.com) from Bozeman, Montana, USA
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Ranunculaceae
- Genus:
- Aquilegia
- Species:
- Aquilegia jonesii
- USDA Symbol:
- AQJO
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 10 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Part Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul,aug
- Bloom Colors:
- blue, purple
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:
- rocky, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- native to alpine regions, prefers cool conditions
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
- Germination Time:
- 21–45 days
- Notes:
- Light aids germination. Seeds should be sown on surface or barely covered. Extremely slow-growing and challenging to cultivate.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Fresh seeds are treated with 500 to 1000 ppm gibberellic acid for 24 hours, then rinsed with running water. Seeds are surface sown for light requirement and undergo a prolonged, 5 month cold, moist stratification in the outdoor nursery during fall or in the refrigerator at 1 C. After 120 days, refrigerator temperature is raised to 3 C and seeds are exposed to light 12 hrs per day. Seeds begin to germinate and are planted as germinants, with the radicle covered with moist medium but leaving the top of the seed exposed on the surface of the medium. Seeds continue to germinate at 3 C for another 4 to 5 weeks.
Establishment: A. jonesii flowers in late June to mid-July after snowmelt. Follicles mature from early to late August. Follicles are collected when they become woody and tan in color and just as they begin to split open. Seeds are black at maturity. Seeds are hand collected in paper bags and kept in a drying shed. A. jonesii inhabits stony calcareous soils in exposed alpine ridges and slopes. It is associated with open, limestone scree slopes and rock crevices, or in alpine cushion plant communities. It is endemic from southwest Alberta to northwest Wyoming, east of the Continental Divide.
Source: npn.rngr.net
ORGHPS Germination Guide: Sow @ 20C. Germinates within 3 months. Requires light / surface sow (fine seed).