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Nature Center of Charleston
Aquilegia chrysantha Gray
Golden columbine, Yellow columbine
Ranunculaceae (Buttercup Family)
USDA Symbol: AQCH
USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.
Several stems and basal leaves form a bushy perennial columbine one to three feet tall with handsome, clear yellow flowers that are held relatively erect on long stalks rather than nodding. Leaves are usually divided into three, occasionally into two parts (variety hinckleyana), with leaflets up to four centimeters long, all carried on petioles up to 20 centimeters in length. Petal blades normally range from eight to sixteen centimeters long, but those of variety hinckleyana are only two centimeters long and sixteen millimeters wide. Spurs range from less than four to more than ten centimeters in length, with four to nine centimeters most common.
Native to moist canyon seeps in the Chihuahuan and Sonoran deserts of southwestern North America, this popular garden columbine is perfect for brightening dark corners of Southwestern shade gardens. It requires good drainage and cant take excessive sun, but is relatively adaptable to any standard garden soil. It is pollinated by moths, butterflies, and bees.
There are several yellow-flowered columbines in western North America, including Longspur Columbine (A. longissima), the rare Hinckley Columbine (A. chrysantha var. hinckleyana), and the rare Chaplins Columbine (A. chrysantha var. chaplinei), the latter two currently considered varieties of A. chrysantha. Aquilegia flavescens, a mountain species growing from southern British Columbia to northern Oregon, east to Colorado, western Wyoming, and Alberta, has bent tips on the spurs, forming hooks.
The word columbine comes from columbinus, in Latin dove, referring to the flowers resemblance to a cluster of 5 doves. The spurs represent the birds heads and shoulders; the spreading sepals, the wings; the blade of the petal, each birds body. The genus name, from the Latin aquila (eagle), alludes to the petals, which resemble eagle talons.
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Herb
Leaf Retention: Semi-evergreen
Leaf Arrangement: Basal
Size Class: 1-3 ft.
Leaf Shape: Obovate
Leaf Venation: Palmately Veined
Leaf Pubescence: Glabrous
Leaf Margin: Lobed
Leaf Texture: Smooth
Breeding System: Monoecious
Fruit Type: Follicle
Leaf Color: Glaucous green
Flower Size: 3-5 inches long
Sepals: 5-17 mm wide, with 5-10 mm usual. Usually more than 2 cm long, with those of variety chaplinei no more than 2 cm.
Petals: Petal blades 2-16 cm long, with 8-16 cm usual (variety hinckleyana has 2 cm long petal blades 16 mm wide).
Fruit Length: 13-18 mm follicles, 2 mm seeds
Fruit Color: Green to dark grey
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: YellowBloom Time: Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep
Bloom Notes: Peak bloom time varies from late spring to late summer
Distribution
USA: AZ , CO , NM , TX , UTNative Distribution: Chihuahuan and Sonoran Desert canyon seeps from west Texas, southern New Mexico, southern Utah, and Arizona south into adjacent Mexico. Disjunct population in southern Colorado.
Native Habitat: Moist places in sheltered canyons in the Chihuahuan and Sonoran Deserts
USDA Native Status: L48(N)
Growing Conditions
Water Use: MediumLight Requirement: Part Shade , Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist
Heat Tolerant: yes
Soil Description: Moist, well-drained sandy, rocky, loamy, limestone or igneous soils
Conditions Comments: Needs good drainage but will adapt to clays if enough sand and/or organic matter is worked in to prevent waterlogging. Poor drainage causes crown rot. May go dormant during drought, but minimal moisture and adequate shade can prevent this. Though they tolerate some heat, Southwestern yellow columbines become susceptible to spider mites and aphids in very hot, arid conditions. In continuous full sun, can become stressed, with faded leaves, so plant in shade.
Benefit
Use Ornamental: A shade-loving perennial with brilliant flowers and handsome, nearly evergreen foliageUse Wildlife: Attracts butterflies and bumblebees
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Interesting Foliage: yes
Attracts: Butterflies
Nectar Source: yes
Propagation
Propagation Material: Seeds , Clump DivisionCommercially Avail: yes
Maintenance: Water during drought to prevent dormancy. Cut spent seedheads if desired. To prevent hybridization with other species of columbine, keep different species widely separated.
Find Seed or Plants
Order seed of this species from Native American Seed and help support the Wildflower Center.
Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.
Mr. Smarty Plants says
Question: I was planning on planting some columbines in a barrel and Turk's Cap and Coralberry in my yard, but hadn't counted on the extreme heat this early in the summer. Is it okay to plant these things as long as I am careful to keep them watered, or would it be a waste of my time?
click here to view the full question and answer
Question: What ornamental plant will do well under Live Oak trees?
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From the National Organizations Directory
According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:Tohono Chul Park, Inc. - Tucson, AZ
NPSOT - Fredericksburg Chapter - Fredericksburg, TX
Bibliography
Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas (1979) Correll, D. S. & M. C. JohnstonNative Landscaping from El Paso to L.A. (2000) Wasowski, S. and A. Wasowski
* Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region (2002) Wasowski, S. & A. Wasowski
Rare Plants of Texas (2007) Poole, J. M.; Carr, W. R.; Price, D. M.; Singhurst...
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Recommended Species Lists
Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.
View Recommended Species pageAdditional resources
USDA: Find Aquilegia chrysantha in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Aquilegia chrysantha in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Aquilegia chrysantha
Metadata
Record Modified: 2010-01-26Research By: TWC Staff, GDG
