Family: Ranunculaceae
Canadian columbine, red columbine, wild columbine
[Aquilegia canadensis f. albiflora House]
Merel R. Black
Robert R. Kowal
University of Wisconsin - Madison (WIS-VP)
Etymology: Aquilegia: from Latin aquila, "an eagle," referring to the shape of the petals which is said to be like an eagle's claw
Plants: erect, perennial, 1'-3' tall forb
Leaves: widely-roundish, toothed or lobed, 2-3 times 3-parted, stalked, alternate, basal leaves larger than the stem leaves
Flowers: orange to red/yellow, 5-parted, 1 1/4" long, nodding, yellow petals below long, hollow, red spurs and red/orange sepals; inflorescence of several long stalks branching from the stem with solitary flowers; blooms May-July
Habitat: full sun to shade; dry; woods, forests, cliffs; in sandy, loamy soil
Hazardous: Careful, this plant is hazardous!
Conservation Status: Native
Plants: erect, perennial, 1'-3' tall forb
Leaves: widely-roundish, toothed or lobed, 2-3 times 3-parted, stalked, alternate, basal leaves larger than the stem leaves
Flowers: orange to red/yellow, 5-parted, 1 1/4" long, nodding, yellow petals below long, hollow, red spurs and red/orange sepals; inflorescence of several long stalks branching from the stem with solitary flowers; blooms May-July
Habitat: full sun to shade; dry; woods, forests, cliffs; in sandy, loamy soil
Hazardous: Careful, this plant is hazardous!
Conservation Status: Native
One of our most common native plants, found in a wide variety of habitats including dry to mesic woods of oak, oak-pine, oak-hickory, mixed conifers, maple-balsam fir-white cedar, aspen, maple-basswood; oak savannas, red cedar glades, rocky hillsides and bluffs, cliffs and rock outcrops, talus slopes, rocky shores, dry prairies, oak and pine barrens, thickets, roadsides, old quarries, and shrubby back dunes of Lake Michigan.
Found throughout the state but rare in parts of the north-central counties, but this is probably because of under-collecting in that area. A rare white-flowered form has been collected in the state.
Found throughout the state but rare in parts of the north-central counties, but this is probably because of under-collecting in that area. A rare white-flowered form has been collected in the state.
Flora of North America: Flora of North America Floristic Rating: Coefficient of Conservatism = 5, Wetland Indicator = FAC- Atlas of the Wisconsin Prairie and Savanna Flora: by T.S. Cochrane & H.H. Iltis: habitat, distribution infomation / flowering and fruiting times USDA Plants Database: Federal Distribution and detailed information including photos David G. Smith's "Delaware Wilflowers": Beautiful photographs; descriptions Dan Tenaglia's The Missouri Flora: Fabulous photographs; detailed descriptions; color and leave arrangement key. Southwest School of Botanical Medicine: Britton & Brown Illustrated Flora - 2nd Edition (1913) "An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada"
Robert R. Kowal
Robert Bierman
Paul Drobot
Botanical Illustration
Derek Anderson
Derek Anderson
Derek Anderson
Derek Anderson
Marci Hess
Marci Hess
Robert R. Kowal
Aaron Carlson
Aaron Carlson
