Columbine
Aquilegia vulgaris
Family: Ranunculaceae · Also called Granny's Bonnet, Eagle Flower, Dove Flower, Aquilegia vulgaris proles collina, Aquilegia vulgaris subsp. collina, Aquilegia vulgaris var. nemoralis
Green & Fresh · Spring–Summer bloomer
Columbine is a wildflower with the poise of a dancer, nodding blooms with swept-back spurs that look like a circle of doves or a jester's cap, depending on your imagination. Native species span from the crimson-and-gold of North American rocky mountain columbine to the deep violet of European meadows.
courage, foolishness, wisdom
In the Victorian language of flowers, columbine means “Resolved to win”. The name comes from Latin 'columba' (dove), the five petals resemble a ring of doves drinking from a fountain. In medieval art, columbine represented the Holy Spirit. Shakespeare used it as a symbol of faithlessness and foolishness in Hamlet.
Did You Know?
Each Aquilegia species evolved different spur lengths to match specific pollinators. Short spurs attract bees, medium spurs attract hummingbirds, and extremely long spurs attract hawk moths. Darwin called this 'one of the most remarkable cases of co-adaptation in the plant kingdom.'
Rocky outcrops, open woodland, meadows, and mountain slopes
Columbine is native to Europe, North America. It naturally grows in rocky outcrops, open woodland, meadows, and mountain slopes.
Scent Profile
“A whisper of sweetness, columbine's scent is so faint that some consider it scentless, but the nectar-rich spurs carry a ghost of honey that draws hummingbirds from great distances.”
Quick Reference
- Scientific NameAquilegia vulgaris
- FamilyRanunculaceae
- Native ToEurope, North America
- Bloom SeasonSpring–Summer
- LifespanPerennial
Cultural Significance
The name comes from Latin 'columba' (dove), the five petals resemble a ring of doves drinking from a fountain. In medieval art, columbine represented the Holy Spirit. Shakespeare used it as a symbol of faithlessness and foolishness in Hamlet.