Colorado Columbine

Growth Characteristics: Colorado Columbine is a bushy, clump-forming perennial, 1-2 feet tall and 1-2 feet wide, growing from a taproot. It blooms April-July. Most species are short-lived, living only two or three years.

Flowers: Erect. Columbine is often bi-colored, meaning the sepals and the petals are two different colors. There are 5 petals and 5 sepals. The sepals extend out at right angles from the flower. The petals extend backward forming a slender spur with a bulbous, glandular tip. The petals and sepals range in color from white to blue, or sometimes pink. The stamens are 13-24 mm long, and often extend out beyond the petals. Columbine is pollinated by bees.

Fruits/Seeds: A follicle.

Leaves: The basal leaves are one to three times ternately compound, 9-37 cm, and much shorter than the stems. Leaflets are green on top. The leaves of Columbine are similar to the leaves of Meadow-rue.

Colorado columbine occurs throughout the Rocky Mountains at elevations from 6000 to 10,000 feet. Found in sagebrush, pinyon-juniper, mountain-brush, aspen, Douglas fir, Aspen-tall forb, spruce-fir, and alpine tundra communities. It is especially common in Aspen stands.

Soils: Tolerates a wide range of soils except heavy, poorly drained ones. It prefers rich, moist soils with light to moderate shade.