Utah Columbine (Aquilegia scopulorum) is an adorable, compact columbine perfect for Utah gardens and the inspiration behind our logo here at Cache Valley Native Plants! Utah Columbine features soft, beautiful blue-green foliage and delicate, nodding blooms. Native to rocky slopes and high-elevation crevices, this columbine thrives in well-drained soils and partial shade, where it brings a welcome splash of cool-toned color in late spring and early summer. The elegant lavender-blue and white flowers float above the foliage on slender stems, attracting hummingbirds and a variety of native bees. It naturalizes lightly in the right conditions, creating a charming, self-renewing patchwork of blooms. Plant Utah Columbine along partially shaded garden beds and borders, woodland or shade garden edges, rock gardens, or even as a groundcover or a crevice plant in rock walls. It also does well in containers. Utah Columbine hybridizes with other columbines very easily and may show changes in bloom color if other columbines are nearby.
Photo Credit: C T Johannson and Stan Shebs
Utah Columbine
Irrigation Requirement: Low (1/2" every 10-14 days) or Moderate (1/2" every 7-10 days).
Mature Size: 2 - 12" tall and 8 - 10" wide
Spacing: 8 - 12"
Bloom Colors: Blue-Purple and White
Bloom Season: May - July, might rebloom later in summer
Hardiness Zone: 3 - 8
Light Requirement: Partial Shade preferred
Deer Resistant: Moderately
Salt Tolerant: Moderately
Soils: Can handle a variety of soil types, including clay, if well-draining.
Plants in the genus Aquilegia are known host plants for 2 native pollinators in northern Utah. They also provide nectar and pollen for a variety of native pollinators, including hummingbirds.