Red Columbine - PollinateHV Local Ecotype

Red Columbine is a welcome sign of spring and one of the most distinctive wildflowers you can invite into your garden. Its fascinating, nodding blooms appear to be two flowers in one: an inner yellow blossom cradled by an elegantly spurred, scarlet outer layer. This complex, lantern-like shape isn't just for show; it is nature's perfect design for feeding hummingbirds, who find the nectar stored in the hollow spurs irresistible. Beyond feeding the birds, this native perennial is a vital ecological hub, offering early-season nourishment for bees and butterflies and serving as the larval host plant for the Columbine Duskywing.

For the home gardener, Aquilegia canadensis is as versatile as it is beautiful. While it naturally thrives at the woodland edge in dappled light, it is surprisingly adaptable, happy in well-drained soils ranging from full sun to shade. It reaches a graceful height of about 30 inches, adding an airy, wild elegance to flower beds. Rugged and reliable, it is resistant to deer and establishes easily from its shiny, black pearl-like seeds, ensuring these ruby and gold gems return to grace your landscape year after year.

This local ecotype seed is of Hudson Valley wild origin and has been scaled for production on our farm in Accord, NY.

PollinateHV is a collaboration between the Hudson Valley Seed Company and Partners for Climate Action Hudson Valley in support of threatened native pollinators.

 We worked with a team of expert botanists, seed collectors, nursery growers and farmers to produce local ecotype native seeds to support at-risk Hudson Valley pollinators. You can find more information about this project at pollinatehv.org/seed-work. Learn more about the Hudson Valley's threatened pollinators and find resources to install pollinator habitat at all scales at pollinatehv.org.