Aquilegia coerulea

(Colorado Columbine)

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Aquilegia coerulea, FR 612, Lone Cone Area, San Miguel Co. 3456

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Aquilegia coerulea, Breckenridge, Summit Co. 0654

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Aquilegia coerulea, Middle Swan Valley, Summit Co. 5621

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Aquilegia coerulea, Mayflower Gulch, Summit Co. 2632

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Aquilegia coerulea, Mayflower Gulch, Summit Co. 2634

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Aquilegia coerulea, FR 612, Lone Cone Area, San Miguel Co. 3461

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Aquilegia coerulea, Middle Swan Valley, Summit Co. 5646

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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: Ten Mile Range and Rhodiola integrifolia (King’s Crown) in Summit County