Aquilegia coerulea
(Colorado Columbine)
Aquilegia coerulea, FR 612, Lone Cone Area, San Miguel Co. 3456
Aquilegia coerulea, Breckenridge, Summit Co. 0654
Aquilegia coerulea, Middle Swan Valley, Summit Co. 5621
Aquilegia coerulea, Mayflower Gulch, Summit Co. 2632
Aquilegia coerulea, Mayflower Gulch, Summit Co. 2634
Aquilegia coerulea, FR 612, Lone Cone Area, San Miguel Co. 3461
Aquilegia coerulea, Middle Swan Valley, Summit Co. 5646
Aquilegia coerulea, Blue Lakes, Summit Co. 9925
| Scientific Name | Aquilegia coerulea | USDA PLANTS Symbol | AQCO |
| Common Name | Colorado Columbine, Colorado Blue Columbine | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 18733 |
| Family | Ranunculaceae (Buttercup) | SEINet Reference |
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| Description |
Life zones and habitat: Foothills to alpine (5500 to 13500 ft); moist soils on rocky slopes, willow thickets, aspen groves and forest clearings.
Plant: Erect, branched, bushy perennial up to 3 feet tall; slender, smooth stems. Leaves: Mostly basal with long, slender stalks, blades deeply dissected into 1-inch rounded lobes, bluish-green below. Inflorescence: Heads with 5 scoop-shaped white petals with slender 1 to 2-inch blue spurs behind; surrounded by 5 pink to deep blue pointed sepals and yellow stamens. Bloom Period: June to August. References: "Guide to Colorado Wildflowers" by G.K. Guennel and "Flora of Colorado" by Jennifer Ackerfield. Note: There is significant variation in the colors of the sepals and spurs; medium to deep blue are considered as var. coerulea and white or pale blue sepals var. ochroleuca. |
BONAP Distribution Map
Map Color Key |
State Flower of Colorado Colorado Status: Native |
© Tom Lebsack 2024
Banner photo: Castilleja rhexifolia and a brewing storm over the San Juan Mountains