Plant · GBIF taxon 3033187
blue columbine
Aquilegia caeruleaAlso known as Colorado Columbine, Rocky Mountain Columbine, Colorado Blue Columbine
Blue columbines grace subalpine meadows and aspen groves with striking, two-toned blossoms featuring white inner petals and sky-blue outer sepals with long nectar spurs. Long-tongued hawkmoths and bumblebees hover beneath these nodding blooms, drinking nectar while transferring pollen across mountain slopes. As the official state flower of Colorado, these hardy perennials mark the onset of high-country summer across the Rocky Mountains.
Mountain NativeFloweringPollinator Attraction
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Sunlight
- Water
- Soil Minerals
Predators
- Columbine Leafminers
- Aphids
- Deer
ThreatsHabitat degradation, climate change altering snowpack, over-collection
HabitatsSubalpine meadows, aspen groves, coniferous forests, rocky slopes
Life span3 to 5 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyRanunculaceae
- SpeciesAquilegia caerulea
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Contains toxic glycosides; avoid ingesting any part of the plant.
- Why it is dangerous
- Contains toxic glycosides and alkaloids that cause severe gastrointestinal distress and potential heart palpitations if ingested.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Recognized by its distinct two-toned blue and white flowers with five backward-pointing nectar spurs.
- What to do
- Do not ingest any plant parts; admire flowers in place without picking.
Responsible observation
- Observation: Look for blooms in damp, rocky slopes and aspen clearings from June through August.
- Photography: Frame blossoms from below to highlight the dramatic length of the nectar spurs.
- Conservation: Refrain from picking wild blooms to allow natural seed distribution.
Pollinator (c) Michelle W. （鍾偉瑋）, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Michelle W. （鍾偉瑋） · cc-by
Frequent Companion (c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · cc-by-sa
Close Relative Ragesoss / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative
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