Eastern Red Columbine

This perennial herb reaches 1-4’ tall. This is one of the first plants to flower in March, enjoying the cooler mornings spring has to offer. Wild columbine form patches thanks to its highly viable and abundant seed production. In these patches, tall, wiry stems arise with nodding red and yellow flowers. Completely yellow or red flowers are rarely found. This plants common name, columbine, means “dove” or “pigeon,” referring to the resemblance of its nectaries to talons. This species, the only native columbine of eastern North America, is pollinated by hummingbirds.