Nectar - humming birds, bumble bees and butterflies (Swallowtails and fritlillaries) Pollen Collecting - Short-tongued Halictid bees collect pollen. Host Plant - sole food source for the Columbine Duskywing caterpillars. Deer - are not fond of this plant
Seed Package states, seeds need 60 days of cold, moist storage to stimulate germination.
Purchased seed planted in cold frame, late September. Germination noted less than a month later. Decided to bring seedling inside under florescent light for the winter. A wise decision as of December 31, 2017 they are thriving.
2012
Cold Storage 60 days - Small Zip lock plastic bag with a few table spoons of moistened vermiculite
Light Required - Seeds need light to germinate - Planted on top of soil
Seeds Planted - 2-8-2012
Seeds Sprouted - 2-25-2012 - Very Sparse
Night Temperature - 61 - 63°F
Day Temperature - 64 - 65°F -Under florescent lights
Aquilegia canadensis - Wild Columbine
"There from the rock-cleft rude
Up springs with nodding bells, the Columbine,
And round her ever, in her solitude.
The wild bees' wigletts shine."
Howard Gilbert 1907 - From - Second Annual Report - The Horticultural Societies of Ontario 1908
Cultivation Information- Wild Columbine
Wild Columbine
Height -10 to 12 inches Flower Color - red to pale orange Blooms - April - June Sun - sun to light shade
Hardy Zone - 3 to 9
Soil - well drained pH - 6.0 to 7.0
Family - Ranunculacea
Photo Prairie Moon Nursery
Identifying Wild Columbine seedlings
Seed Provenance for Aquilegia canadensis - Wild Columbine - Prairie Moon Nursery, MN 2012 - Nodding Onion Gardens 2014. For the past few years I have been purchasing seed as I love the Colorado Columbine my brother Tim gave to me but I don't want to take the risk of it cross- pollinating with our Wild Columbine.
