Also known as Eastern Red Columbine, Wild Red Columbine or Turks Cap, this beautiful woodland wildflower has showy, drooping, bell-like flowers equipped with distinctly backward-pointing tubes, similar to the garden Columbines. Eastern columbine is a native herbaceous perennial in the Ranunculaceae (buttercup) family. These tubes, or spurs, contain nectar that attracts long-tongued insects and hummingbirds especially adapted for reaching the sweet secretion. The colorful flowers are red flowing into yellow.

Care

Besides being an early bloomer, wild columbine prefers partial shade conditions but will tolerate more sun with adequate moisture. It prefers organically rich, moist soil like that in its native forest home. Best grown in zones 3-8.

Growth Habit

This is an erect, branching perennial, up to 3 ft. tall, well-known for its showy flowers. A nodding, red and yellow flower with upward spurred petals alternating with spreading, colored sepals and numerous yellow stamens hanging below the petals. The compound leaves, divided into round-lobed threes, are attractive in their own right.

Toxicity

Can be toxic to pets but is deer & rabbit resistant.