Common columbine (Aquilegia vulgaris)

Common columbine (Aquilegia vulgaris) is a perennial plant that can grow 50cm – 1.5m tall and 10cm – 50cm wide.

This plant has several common names including: common columbine, American bluebells, American snapdragon, capon’s tail, cock’s foot, culverwort, dove plant, God’s breath, granny’s bonnets, lady’s shoes, lion’s herb, naked woman’s foot, pigeon flower, pigeon foot or sow wort.

This is a deciduous plant that takes 2-5 years to reach full maturity.

Plant profile

Common name: common columbine, American bluebells, American snapdragon, capon’s tail, cock’s foot, culverwort, dove plant, God’s breath, granny’s bonnets, lady’s shoes, lion’s herb, naked woman’s foot, pigeon flower, pigeon foot, sow wort
Scientific name: Aquilegia vulgaris
Plant type: Perennials
Habit: Bushy
Height: 50cm – 1.5m
Spread: 10cm – 50cm
Foliage: Deciduous
Sunlight: Full Sun, Partial shade
Soil: Loam, Sand
Moisture: Moist but well drained
Garden type: City & Courtyard Gardens, Informal Garden
Planting type: Flower borders and bedding, Low Maintenance
Other characteristics: Plants for pollinators

Seasonal colors

How to plant Common columbine (Aquilegia vulgaris) – Ivar Leidus, CC BY-SA 3.0 EE, via Wikimedia Commons

Cultivation profiles – Growing Common columbine (Aquilegia vulgaris) – Danyil Solovchuk, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons