European columbine

The European columbine (Aquilegia vulgaris) is a common garden plant known for its spurred blue flowers. It belongs to the genus Aquilegia, which comprises nearly 100 species of perennial herbaceous plants native to Europe and North America.12

Columbines are easily recognized by their five-petaled flowers, each featuring long, backward-extending spurs that hold nectar. These plants are cultivated for their attractive blooms, which come in a variety of colors. The common European columbine typically grows between 18 and 30 inches tall and is found along roadsides and woodland edges. Many garden hybrids have been developed from species native to the Rocky Mountains, offering showy, long-spurred flowers in a wide range of colors.2