Western Columbine plant profile
Aquilegia formosa
A perennial flower for partial sun.
Last updated .
When to plant
When to plant Western Columbine
A long-lived perennial that thrives in dappled shade but tolerates full sun to shade, blooming from late spring into July. Easy from seed but needs a long cold-moist stratification (10 to 12 weeks), so sow outdoors in fall or start indoors after chilling; it also divides easily.
The calendar shows this cited seasonal window as an approximate band. It does not convert the season into frost-adjusted dates.
Open Western Columbine in my garden calendarShows the source-backed planting season, not frost-adjusted dates.
Growing conditions
- Sun
- Partial sun
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Spacing
- 12 to 18 in apart
Next steps
Continue with Western Columbine
Evidence trail
Evidence behind this profile
Original extension and institutional publications behind the planting, care, and safety facts on this page.
- Western Red Columbine in the Landscape (Aquilegia formosa)
Utah State University Center for Water Efficient Landscaping (Native Plants for the Intermountain West). Supports general reference. Checked 2026-06-18.