Western Columbine
Scientific Name: Aquilegia formosa Fisch. ex DC.
Synonyms: Aquilegia fosteri (S.L. Welsh) S.L. Welsh, Aquilegia formosa Fisch. ex DC. var. <i>communis</i> B. Boivin, Aquilegia formosa Fisch. ex DC. var. <i>fosteri</i> S.L. Welsh, Aquilegia formosa Fisch. ex DC. var. <i>hypolasia</i> (Greene) Munz, Aquilegia formosa Fisch. ex DC. var. <i>megalantha</i> B. Boivin, Aquilegia formosa Fisch. ex DC. var. <i>pauciflora</i> (Greene) Boothman, Aquilegia formosa Fisch. ex DC. var. <i>truncata</i> (Fisch. & C.A. Mey.) M.E. Jones, Aquilegia formosa Fisch. ex DC. var. <i>wawawensis</i> (Payson) H. St. John, Aquilegia mohavensis Munz, Aquilegia shockleyi Eastw.
Classification: Plantae/ Tracheobionta / Spermatophyta / Magnoliophyta / Magnoliopsida / Magnoliidae / Ranunculales / Ranunculaceae / Aquilegia L./ Aquilegia formosa Fisch. ex DC.
| General Information | |
|---|---|
| Usda Symbol | AQFO |
| Group | Dicot |
| Life Cycle | Perennial |
| Growth Habits | Forb/herb |
| Native Locations | AQFO |
Plant Guide
Use a soil moisture meter to monitor the soil moisture where Western Columbine is planted.
Plant Traits
Growth Requirements
| Temperature, Minimum (°F) | -23 |
|---|---|
| Adapted to Coarse Textured Soils | Yes |
| Adapted to Fine Textured Soils | No |
| Adapted to Medium Textured Soils | Yes |
| Anaerobic Tolerance | Low |
| CaCO3 Tolerance | Low |
| Cold Stratification Required | No |
| Drought Tolerance | Medium |
| Fertility Requirement | Low |
| Fire Tolerance | High |
| Frost Free Days, Minimum | 100 |
| Hedge Tolerance | Low |
| Moisture Use | Medium |
| pH, Maximum | 7.5 |
| pH, Minimum | 6.0 |
| Planting Density per Acre, Maxim | 3450 |
| Planting Density per Acre, Minim | 1200 |
| Precipitation, Maximum | 60 |
| Precipitation, Minimum | 15 |
| Root Depth, Minimum (inches) | 6 |
| Salinity Tolerance | None |
| Shade Tolerance | Tolerant |
Morphology/Physiology
| After Harvest Regrowth Rate | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Toxicity | None |
| Resprout Ability | No |
| Shape and Orientation | Erect |
| Active Growth Period | Spring and Summer |
| Bloat | None |
| C:N Ratio | Medium |
| Coppice Potential | No |
| Fall Conspicuous | No |
| Fire Resistant | No |
| Flower Color | Red |
| Flower Conspicuous | Yes |
| Foliage Color | Green |
| Foliage Porosity Summer | Porous |
| Fruit/Seed Color | Brown |
| Nitrogen Fixation | None |
| Low Growing Grass | No |
| Lifespan | Short |
| Leaf Retention | No |
| Known Allelopath | No |
| Height, Mature (feet) | 3.0 |
| Growth Rate | Rapid |
| Growth Form | Multiple Stem |
| Fruit/Seed Conspicuous | Yes |
| Foliage Texture | Medium |
Reproduction
| Vegetative Spread Rate | None |
|---|---|
| Small Grain | No |
| Seedling Vigor | Medium |
| Seed Spread Rate | Rapid |
| Seed per Pound | 248000 |
| Fruit/Seed Persistence | No |
| Propagated by Tubers | No |
| Propagated by Sprigs | No |
| Propagated by Sod | No |
| Propagated by Seed | Yes |
| Propagated by Corm | No |
| Propagated by Container | Yes |
| Propagated by Bulb | No |
| Propagated by Bare Root | No |
| Fruit/Seed Period End | Fall |
| Fruit/Seed Period Begin | Summer |
| Fruit/Seed Abundance | High |
| Commercial Availability | Contracting Only |
| Bloom Period | Spring |
| Propagated by Cuttings | No |
Suitability/Use
| Veneer Product | No |
|---|---|
| Pulpwood Product | No |
| Protein Potential | Medium |
| Post Product | No |
| Palatable Human | No |
| Palatable Graze Animal | High |
| Palatable Browse Animal | High |
| Nursery Stock Product | Yes |
| Naval Store Product | No |
| Lumber Product | No |
| Fodder Product | No |
| Christmas Tree Product | No |
| Berry/Nut/Seed Product | No |
