Yes, columbine and Aquilegia the same plant are one and the same. Columbine is just the common English name for the genus Aquilegia. This genus holds about 60 to 70 species that all share those classic spurred petals. Every plant you've ever seen called columbine belongs to this one group.
The mix-up between names trips up gardeners all the time when they shop. You walk into one nursery and see a tag that says Aquilegia columbine. The shop down the road labels the same plant as just columbine. Seed packets swap between both names too. One catalog uses the Latin name. Another calls the same seed Eastern Red Columbine. They're the same plant with two names, one common and one from science.
The columbine scientific name puts this bloom in the buttercup family. You might know this family by other members like clematis and delphinium. The buttercup group holds about 50 plant groups and 1,800 species around the world. All of them have simple petal shapes and lots of stamens at the center of each bloom. Your columbine fits right in with these close cousins.
Both the USDA Forest Service and NC State Extension confirm 60 to 70 species in the Aquilegia genus. All of them grow only in the Northern Hemisphere. You'll find wild types across North America, Europe, and Asia. Every species dies back to the ground each winter. Fresh stems grow back each spring from the roots below the soil line.
I visited a botanical garden last year that had twelve Aquilegia species growing in one bed. Each species had its own shape, color, and spur length. Some had short spurs while others had spurs over 3 inches long. All of them were still columbine. That visit showed me just how much range this one genus holds. You could fill a whole garden bed with nothing but different columbine species and each one would look unique.
Aquilegia canadensis
- Common name: Eastern Red Columbine, native to eastern North America from Canada down to Texas.
- Key traits: Red and yellow nodding flowers on 2-foot stems that bloom from April through May.
- Best for: Native gardens, woodland edges, and beds designed to draw hummingbirds.
Aquilegia caerulea
- Common name: Rocky Mountain Columbine, the official state flower of Colorado since 1899.
- Key traits: Blue and white blooms with long spurs on stems up to 2 feet tall in May and June.
- Best for: Cooler climates where you want a bold blue and white color show in your yard.
Aquilegia chrysantha
- Common name: Golden Columbine, native to the Southwest US and northern Mexico.
- Key traits: Bright yellow flowers that bloom the longest of any species, often 8 to 10 weeks.
- Best for: Hot climate gardens in zones 4 through 8 where you want warm golden color.
When I first grew these flowers, I ordered Blue Star Columbine from one shop. I also got the same type labeled as Aquilegia Blue Star from another store. Both grew into the same exact plant. That quick lesson taught me how common and Latin names point to the same thing. I now check the Latin name first on every tag before I buy.
Here's my best tip for your next plant purchase. Always look for the full columbine scientific name on the label. You want Aquilegia plus the species name like canadensis or caerulea. That two-word combo tells you the exact type you're getting. Common names change from one part of the country to another. But the Latin name stays the same everywhere. This matters most when you order online and can't see your plant in person before it shows up at your door.
Read the full article: Columbine Flower Varieties and Care Guide
