Perennial · Ranunculaceae family
Columbine
Aquilegia vulgaris
In short a 10-second read
Columbine (perennial) grows to 0.45–0.9 m tall and 0.3–0.6 m wide when mature. It grows best in full sun to part shade, in dry to average soil. It flowers in May–June; the flowers are blue, purple, white, pink or red. Hardy to −37 °C.
× spread 0.3–0.6 m
Where to plant
Sun, soil, frost.
It grows best in full sun to part shade, in dry to average soil. Hardy to −37 °C.
Sun
Tolerates several positions — choose to suit the rest of the garden.
Soil and water
dry to average · watering: moderate
Soil: humus-rich, loamy, gravelly
Soil pH 6–7.5
Frost
It copes with a normal winter outdoors.
How much space it takes
Mature size.
The mature plant next to a person (175 cm).
Next to a person
Reaches maturity in about 2–5 years. The final size depends on the cultivar and the spot — we give the range from smallest to largest.
Calendar
What to do and when.
Months for Central Europe. The line shows the current month.
The year at a glance
Flowers
May–June · blue, purple, white, pink or red
Pruning
prune after flowering (June–July)
Planting
container plant: March–May, September–November
Winter protection
not needed
Overwintering
It copes with winter on its own.
It overwinters outdoors without protection, hardy to −37 °C.
- Needs no protection
- Hardy to −37 °C
- Dies back in winter and regrows in spring
What to combine it with
Same needs, different flowering.
They share the same sun and soil and flower in other months — so the bed flowers for longer.
orange coneflower
0.5–0.95 m
African Marigold
0.15–1.2 m
purple coneflower
0.9–1.2 mReady-made Studio combinations that include Columbine
Peonies, columbines, masterwort and cranesbill — a romantic bed in…
Frequently asked
Quick answers.
When does Columbine flower?
In May–June; the flowers are blue, purple, white, pink or red.
Does Columbine tolerate shade?
It tolerates part shade (3–6 hours of sun), but not full shade.
How much space does Columbine need?
At maturity 0.3–0.6 m wide and 0.45–0.9 m tall; recommended spacing 32 cm.
Does Columbine survive winter outdoors?
Yes, without protection, hardy to −37 °C.
Where the data comes from
The data is indicative — we are still comparing it with further sources. Last checked 28 September 2026.
Show sources (17)
- Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder — Aquilegia vulgaris
- GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Aquilegia vulgaris
- GBIF Occurrence Search API — Aquilegia vulgaris
- Wikidata (CC0) — Aquilegia vulgaris
- Bamberger Staudengarten (Strobler), katalóg
- Foerster-Stauden, katalóg
- Gärtnerei Strickler, katalóg
- Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Plant Finder
- Staudenkulturen Stade
- Iowa State Extension - How to Plant Perennials
- RHS - How to grow perennial plants
- Invasive plant lists — this species is not on them: EU, Slovakia, Czechia, Germany, Poland, Denmark
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