Aquilegia formosa, Western Columbine

Western Columbine is a charming wildflower in the buttercup family. It’s a popular native perennial with fern-like foliage that forms a mound about 1 ft tall and wide, with stems about 1-1/2’ to 3’ tall topped by wonderful, spurred blossoms of red and yellow. Both foliage and flowers look striking against the greens of the forest understory.

In the wild, it’s found in moist, shady locations. In the garden, it likes regular water, partial shade, and compost-rich, well-draining soil. It does self-sow, but deadheading will control spreading. Flowers attract hummingbirds, while the seeds are relished by small birds such as sparrows and finches. If seed pods are left on the plants, you may get volunteer seedlings in the fall.