Plant either bare root or potted plants in early spring or fall in well-drained, amended soil rich in organic matter. Columbine prefer a dappled-shade position in hotter climates, but do well in sunny positions (such as open meadows or alpine situations) in cooler climes.
If planting bare root, dig a hole deep enough to allow the fleshy, flexible roots to reach downwards, and make sure the rhizome is approximately one inch beneath the soil.
Light: Full sun to dappled shade depending on your growing zone and the heat of your summers. Full sun in hot summer areas will encourage summer dormancy and foliage burn, however, full sun in cooler summer zones will result in better bloom and more compact plants.
Soil: Well-drained soil that stays evenly moist but not boggy or constantly wet is preferred. Dappled-shade situations, such as you might find at the edge of a woodland, are perfect for Columbine. Such a site keeps roots and foliage cool whilst providing light to encourage good blooms. Heavy clay soils are not tolerated well; Columbine prefers sandier, loamier soils on the fatter side of average. Be aware however that too-rich soils can encourage vigorous upward growth that could require staking.
Spacing: Space 15”-18” apart, slightly less for dwarf varieties.
Growth Habit: Depending on species, Columbine will grow from 1-3’ tall, and about 18” wide. Plants form a soft, mounding clump of bluish-green, deeply-lobed foliage that emerges in early spring. The fascinating, spurred flowers come in a huge array of colors and are often bi-colored. They are borne above the foliage from the center of the plant. After flowering, foliage can be cut back to encourage new, fresh foliage clumps to emerge. In areas with hot summers, especially in a full-sun position, foliage often remains dormant and reemerges in the fall. Seedlings can also seed themselves into the cracks between rocks or walls and remain green throughout a mild winter.
Staking: No staking is necessary, unless plants are grown in exceedingly rich soil.
Watering: Keep soil evenly moist and do not allow Columbine to dry out significantly during its first year in the ground. As they become established, Columbine are more drought tolerant, with deep tap roots that can access moister soil deeper down.
Fertilizing: A top dressing of compost or well-rotted manure is sufficient to keep Columbine blooming well and not becoming overly leggy.
Mulching: Mulching is a good idea for Columbine, as it thrives in an evenly moist environment.
Dividing & Transplanting: If dividing, divide carefully. Columbine has deep roots and it will sulk after transplanting. Try to dig down as deeply as you can in a circle around the clump and lift the clump without breaking the soil ball. Lay that on the ground and divide quickly with a sharp spade, trying to retain a good amount of soil around the roots. Replant the divisions gently and keep well-watered.
Trimming & Pruning: After blooming, foliage can become ratty and brown. Often leaf-miner (Columbine’s biggest pest) will disfigure the leaves with their white, intricate tunnels. Cutting the foliage to the base (and throwing it away) will encourage new foliage to emerge for the season. If, however, you live in a hotter climate, or the plant is situated in a full sun location, it may go dormant for the rest of the season until cooler temperatures prevail.
Pests & Disease: Leaf miner is the best-known scourge of columbine. It winds its way through the leaves between the leaf surfaces, and thus is not affected by sprays. The damage is purely cosmetic however and many a clump of Columbine in a cool summer will remain green with these white tunnels ‘decorating’ the foliage. But if you wish to work towards removing this pest in your garden, cut the foliage to the ground and throw it away – do not compost it. New foliage will emerge if temperatures are not scorching.
Additional Concerns: Columbine is a vigorous re-seeder, but the re-seeding does not tend to get out of hand, and in fact, can elicit a smile from the gardener when he or she sees a lone seed sprouting from an odd location such as a wall or between pavers.