Western columbine
Aquilegia formosa
The western cousin, same hummingbird appointments.
Hardiness: zones 4 to 8
Light: part shade
Size: about 2 ft tall, 1.5 ft wide
From: W. North America
Here: Hardy in the Lake Erie shore climate (zone 6b to 7a), so it can live outdoors in the ground.
Good for: pollinators.
Native to: Pacific Northwest, California, Rockies & Great Basin, Alaska, Western Canada. Hardy in zones 4 to 8.
The story
Western columbine grows along mountain streams from Alaska to California. Coastal peoples called the flowers by names meaning sweet, and children still bite off the spurs for the drop of nectar inside.
Planting
Part shade and moist, well-drained soil.
Growing
Keep it watered in dry summers and let it reseed.
Harvest and use
Red and yellow flowers for hummingbirds from late spring into summer.
What to watch for
It hybridizes with garden columbines nearby. Powdery mildew in dry shade.
See if Western columbine fits your yard
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More native and wild plants
General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home