Aquilegia, Hybrid Columbine 'Swallowtail'

Aquilegia

Family
Ranunculaceae (ra-nun-kew-LAY-see-ee)
Genus
Aquilegia (a-kwi-LEE-jee-a)
Synonym
Sun Exposure
Sun to Partial Shade
Light Shade
Foliage
Herbaceous
Height
12-18 in. (30-45 cm)
18-24 in. (45-60 cm)
Spacing
15-18 in. (38-45 cm)
Hardiness
USDA Zone 3a: to -39.9 °C (-40 °F)
USDA Zone 3b: to -37.2 °C (-35 °F)
USDA Zone 4a: to -34.4 °C (-30 °F)
USDA Zone 4b: to -31.6 °C (-25 °F)
USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 °C (-20 °F)
USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 °C (-15 °F)
USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F)
USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F)
USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F)
USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F)
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F)
Danger
All parts of plant are poisonous if ingested
Bloom Color
Bright Yellow
Bloom Time
Late Spring/Early Summer
Mid Summer
Other Details
Category
Perennials
Water Requirements
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Foliage Color
Orange/Apricot
Where to Grow
Bloom Characteristics
This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds
Bloom Size
Other details
Soil pH requirements
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline)
Patent Information
Non-patented
Propagation Methods
From seed; direct sow outdoors in fall
From seed; direct sow after last frost
Seed Collecting
Allow pods to dry on plant; break open to collect seeds
N/A: plant does not set seed, flowers are sterile, or plants will not come true from seed
Regional

This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:

Canoga Park, California

Perris, California

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Eugene, Oregon

Grants Pass, Oregon

Lexington, South Carolina

Austin, Texas

Geronimo, Texas

Katy, Texas

Santaquin, Utah

Seattle, Washington

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Featured Videos

Gardener's Notes:

5
positives
0
neutral
0
negative
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M
Evergreen Park, IL | May 2015 | positive

I love this plant! First saw a picture of in the newspaper some years ago when it was an All America selection. Sadly, they didn't come ...Read More

D
D
Austin, TX | August 2010 | positive

Swallowtail is by far my favorite Aquilegia to date. Not only does it produce uniquely beautiful flowers in abundance it produced flowers...Read More

C
Perris, CA (Zone 9a) | April 2006 | positive

This is the first year that I have had this plant. I planted it last Fall. The plant now has many, many blooms and more coming.
...Read More

B
Eugene, OR | May 2005 | positive

This is a real honey of a plant. It tolerates all-day hot sunshine. Its foliage stays green all summer. Its flowers are large and brig...Read More

K
K
L.A. (Canoga Park), CA (Zone 10a) | April 2005 | positive

This plant has its origin in an Arizona species and is heat-tolerant - for a columbine.

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