Serpentine Columbine

Tue, 08/11/2009 - 8:25am — Kathy Ormiston
Aquilegia eximia.JPG
Photo Credit: 
Kathy Ormiston, PADG
Botanical Name: 
Aquilegia eximia
Pronunciation: 
(ak-will-EE-jah )
Common Name: 
Serpentine Columbine
Plant Type: 
Perennial
Mature Size: 
3 ft. high and 11/2 ft. wide
Water Requirements: 
Low: water every 3 weeks until the root ball is wet
Sun/Shade Requirements: 
Half sun
Flower Color : 
Yellow and orange
Wildlife: 
Attracts hummingbirds

Columbines are great plants for woodland areas. Their blooms are delicate and lovely. In the summer, the foliage tends to die back, but the flowers more than make up for this. Aquilegia eximia, a California native, is a UC Davis "All Star" plant.

The Palo Alto Demonstration Garden planted Aquilegia eximia in partial sun and it hasn't done as well as we would like. We are now trialing it in a shady spot. The plant may just need more water than we provide at the Palo Alto Demonstration Garden.