Aquilegia Express: Red Columbines
Aquilegia formosa, western columbine
The western columbine occurs from coastal Alaska south through the Yukon Territory, British Columbia and adjacent Alberta to Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, California, Nevada and Wyoming.
Aquilegia formosa ranges in height from 30 to 100 cm. The stems are pubescent above with the leaves glabrous or pubescent on either surface. The flowers are nodding. The sepals are red, 10 to 25 mm long, and perpendicular. The blades are yellow, very short, 2 to 6 mm long. The spurs are red, 10 to 20 mm long and straight. The stamens extend beyond the blades.
Aquilegia formosa is found growing in moist areas in forests, woodlands, alpine and subalpine meadows.
For More Information
- Aquilegia canadensis, red columbine
- Aquilegia desertorum, desert columbine
- Aquilegia elegantula, western red columbine
- Aquilegia eximia, Van Houtte’s columbine
- Aquilegia formosa, western columbine
- Aquilegia grahamii, Graham’s columbine
- Aquilegia shockleyi, Schockley’s columbine
- Aquilegia triternata, barrel columbine