woodland wildflower
Golden columbine
Aquilegia chrysantha
Also known as Yellow Columbine, Southwestern Yellow Columbine
1 of 2Native to Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, and Utah
Chihuahuan and Sonoran Desert canyon seeps from west Texas, southern New Mexico, southern Utah, and Arizona south into Sonora, Coahuila, and Nuevo Leon. Disjunct population in southern Colorado.
- Light Part shade to shade Sun tolerance
- Moisture Moist Moisture preference
- Zones 3–9 Cold to heat range
- Bloom Apr–Sep Flowering time
- Height up to 3 ft to 0.9 m
- Life cycle Perennial Annual to perennial
In the garden
A woodland wildflower for part to full shade and evenly moist soil. Its yellow flowers peak in June. At up to 3 ft, it suits shade gardens and woodland edges. Hardy in USDA zones 3–9.
Growing conditions
Light
Full sun Partial shade Full shade
Moisture
Dry Moist Wet
Hardiness zones
Find your zone:
When it blooms
The Golden columbine's yellow flowers bloom April to September, peaking in June. It's an early-summer display.
Golden columbine blooms yellowFoliage
Full plant details
Where it grows
- Habitat
- WoodlandThe wild plant community it grows in.
- Native range
- Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, and UtahUnited States (5): AZ, CO, NM, TX, UT. Where it grows wild on its own, by state and province.
- Native distribution
- Chihuahuan and Sonoran Desert canyon seeps from west Texas, southern New Mexico, southern Utah, and Arizona south into Sonora, Coahuila, and Nuevo Leon. Disjunct population in southern Colorado.The same native range, usually more exact than the state list, and often noting where it has spread beyond it.
Growing conditions
- Light
- Part shade to shadeHow much sun it takes, from full sun to full shade.
- Moisture
- MoistThe soil dampness it prefers, from dry to wet.
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3–9 · Canadian 2–7The cold-to-heat climate range it survives.
- Soil
- Moist, well-drained sandy, rocky, loamy, limestone or igneous soilsThe soils it grows in naturally.
- Water use
- MediumHow thirsty it is, a rough guide to how often to water.
Growth & form
- Height
- up to 3 ft (to 0.9 m)Typical mature height.
- Life cycle
- PerennialWhether it lives a single season (annual), two (biennial), or returns for years (perennial).
Flowers, foliage & fruit
- Type
- WildflowerWhat kind of plant it is.
- Bloom
- Apr–SepWhen it flowers.
- Flower color
- YellowThe bloom color, or colors.
- Fruit/Seeds
- Cluster of dry follicles; ripens May–SepThe seed or fruit it sets after flowering.
- Toxicity
- None knownWhether any part is poisonous to people or pets.