Texas Gold Columbine
- Shipping Available
- In stock, ready to ship
Aquilegia chrysantha var. hinckleyana
Aquilegia chrysantha, commonly known as golden columbine, canary columbine, or southwestern yellow columbine, is a charming perennial that creates a lovely bushy clump and typically reaches a height of 1 to 3 feet. It is found nestled in the canyons of western Texas, southern New Mexico, southern Utah, and Arizona. Its range extends into northern Mexico, and there is a standalone population in southern Colorado.
In early spring, from March to early May, the plant showcases bright yellow flowers, each with five beautiful petals. These petals dress themselves in a short tube, leading to a unique, slender, tapered spur that gracefully curves backward or outwards. The flowers are also adorned with five-pointed petaloid sepals, which are just a bit longer than the petals and have a softer yellow hue. You'll even catch a whiff of their gentle fragrance! Golden columbine is a popular choice for creating hybrid long-spurred columbines, thanks to its striking long spurs. Its basal leaves are usually 3-ternate and compound palmate.
This delightful plant is a loose grower, typically thriving without the need for support as long as it receives adequate moisture during the growing season. It flourishes best in organically rich, moist, sandy loams with light to moderate shade, but it is quite adaptable and can tolerate various types of well-drained soils. To improve drainage in clay soils, a little sand can work wonders! Notably, golden columbine handles heat and sun better than many of its relatives. After the blooming period, removing the flowering stems can encourage even more vibrant color. To keep the foliage looking lovely, maintain uniform moisture after blooming. When the foliage starts to fade, it's perfectly fine to cut the plants back to the ground. Under optimal growing conditions, golden columbine will happily seed itself if the flowers are left untouched!
Height: 1.5’-2.5’
Spread: 1.5’-2.5’
Bloom: April-May
Light: Full Sun, Part Shade
Water: Medium
Zone: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Origin: Texas
Spring Shipping:
Orders are shipped within 7-10 business days. We will email you if there are expected delays.
When you order plants from our nursery, you can expect them to arrive in the best possible condition. Our team carefully packs each order using sturdy, biodegradable packaging materials.
Your plants' appearance may vary depending on the season and their current growth stage. We may cut back the leafy growth of some plants to prepare them for shipment and transplanting.
5 Gallon and Up: Any plant purchased to ship over 5 Gallons will be shipped bare root. This means we will remove the plant from its original pot, remove the soil surrounding the roots, and wrap the roots with a biodegradable plastic bag. This reduces weight and the likelihood of damage during shipping.
Once your plants arrive, it is essential to plant them as soon as possible. This will help them rebound and thrive. If you cannot plant immediately, water regularly and keep the roots off heat-conducting surfaces.
Newly transplanted plants often require more water until their roots are well established. Plan to water them 1-3 times weekly for the first few months.
