Aquilegia canadensis 'Little Lanterns'

Other Names: Little Lanterns Dwarf Columbine, Dwarf Wild Columbine, Dwarf Red Columbine, Dwarf Canadian Columbine

---

Aquilegia canadensis 'Little Lanterns' is dwarf version of our North American native Columbine that Thomas Jefferson's horticulturally astute son-in-law, Thomas Mann Randolph, observed blooming at Monticello on April 30, 1791, and it can still be found growing wild at Monticello. Little Lanterns Columbine forms a mound of delicate-looking blue-green foliage about 10 inches high and 12 inches wide. In mid-spring to late spring or early summer, thin-branched stems rise above the foliage, bearing abundant, downward-hanging, bell-shaped, bicolor scarlet red flowers with yellow corollas that hummingbirds and butterflies will flock to. If spent flowers are left on the plants, seeds will drop, and new plants will start growing, forming a colony. Finches and buntings will also appreciate the seeds. It tolerates full sun but thrives in partial shade, where it looks more at home. It is dry-shade tolerant when established, so it is perfect for growing under large shade trees. You might be happy to know the deer and rabbits leave it alone.

Growing to 12 inches tall and wide, the Little Lanterns Columbine is ideal as an accent in small garden spaces and container gardens. It is lovely in groupings, drifts, and borders along paths and walkways or garden beds where space allows. The plant will naturalize beautifully in woodland borders if spent flowers are left on the stems. It is excellent solo or combined with other plants in pots, planters, and other containers. A fine addition to cottage gardens, red theme gardens, butterfly and hummingbird gardens, native gardens, wildflower gardens, or woodland gardens.

Suggested Spacing:  12 inches apart for mass plantings; 24 or more inches apart for space between plants.