Accession Count: 16
Common Name:
golden-spurred columbine
Family Name:
Ranunculaceae
Botanical Name:
Aquilegia chrysantha
Sub Species:
Variety:
Forma:
Cultivar:
Characteristics:
Aquilegia chrysantha is a bushy, herbaceous perennial that grows up to three feet tall with an equal spread (1). It has basal compound leaves with (usually) three leaflets measuring about one and a half inches in length (2,3). Its attractive flowers, about three inches in length, are golden-yellow in color and held erect on tall stalks (2). The faintly fragrant flowers are very distinctive, having five oblong petals, which extend toward the back with nectar-filled spurs, and five petaloid sepals, which are perpendicular to the stalk and are typically lighter in color than the petals (1,3,4). At their centers, the flowers produce several dozen stamens and five stigmas, all clustered together (4). The plant can be multi-stemmed and branches freely, producing many flowers (2,4).
Compound:
Aqu chr
Geographic Origin:
Desert Southwest
Ecozone Origin:
Biome Origin:
Natural History:
Golden columbine is native the Sonoran and Chihuahuan Deserts, extending from Arizona eastward into western Texas, northward into southern Utah and southward into northern Mexico (1,2). There is also a disjunct population in southern Colorado, which is often considered to be taxonomically distinct (var. rydbergii) because it has shorter spurs (1,5,6,7). It is typically found in cool, moist locations like shady canyons and riparian zones. Its common name, columbine, comes from the Latin columbinus, meaning “dove,” referring to the similarity of the flower’s five petals and sepals to a cluster of five doves (2). The genus name derives from the Latin word for “eagle” (aquila) because the petals are said to look like eagle talons (1,2). The specific epithet means “golden flowers” (1). Aquilegia chrysantha var. rydbergii is considered a sensitive species by the BLM and US Forest Service and a critically imperiled species by the state of Colorado (6). In Arizona, Aquilegia chrysantha is a protected plant (3).
Cultivation Notes:
Although it prefers cool, moist locations, golden-spurred columbine can be grown in flower or rock gardens in the lower desert if shade
and moist soil are provided (1,2,3). The plant tolerates a variety of soils as
long as they are well drained (1). Flowering can be extended if spent blooms
are removed and soil is kept moist (1). At the end of the flowering season, the
plant may be cut to the ground (1). The plant may go dormant if subjected to
long periods without water (2). It is also susceptible to root rot if waterlogged (2). If desired, flowers can be left on the plant to allow it to reseed (1). Aquilegia chrysantha may cross-pollinate with other columbine species (1,2). Aphids, leaf miners, and red spider mites are a common insect problem. It is recommended to prune seasonally.
Ethnobotany:
All parts of the plant are poisonous, with the roots and seeds being most toxic (8,9). The flowers are pollinated by moths, butterflies, and bees, and will attract hummingbirds (2,3).
Height:
0 - 5 feet
Width:
0 - 5 feet
Growth Rate:
Fast Growing
Grow Season:
Spring
Flower Season:
Summer
Color:
Yellow
Function:
Accent
Spread:
Non-spreading
Allergen:
Non-allergenic
Invasive:
Benign
Toxicity:
Toxic
Hardy:
Hardy
Water Use:
Moderate Water Use
Citations:
1.
Missouri Botanical Garden. Accessed November 25, 2016.
10. Shuler, Carol. Low-Water-Use Plants. Da Capo Press, 1993.
