Distribution: Widely distributed on both sides of the Cascades crest throughout Washington; Alaska to California, coastal and inland to Alberta and Wyoming.
Habitat: Open woods, from the lowlands to moderate elevations in the mountains.
Flowers: May-August
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
Conservation Status: Not of concern
Pollination: Bumblebees, moths, hummingbirds
Glandular, glabrous to densely pubescent perennial from a branched to simple woody base, the several stems 1.5-10 dm. tall.
Leaves mostly basal, long-petiolate, the blades triternate; leaflets thin, obovate with a wedge-shaped base, 2-3 times lobed, glaucous and pubescent beneath, 1.5-5.5 cm. long.
Flowers usually several, nodding; sepals 5, petal-like, pale to deep red, oblong-lanceolate, 1.5-2.5 cm. long; petals 5, blades yellow, 2-5 mm long, spurs red, straight 10-15 mm. long; stamens numerous, the inner ones sterile and scale-like.
Follicles 5, 2 cm. long, copiously glandular-puberulent.
Publication: Prodr. 1: 50. 1824.
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var. formosa – red columbine, Sitka columbine, western columbine
Widely distributed on both sides of the Cascades crest throughout Washington; Alaska to California, coastal and inland to Alberta and Wyoming.
PNW Herbaria: Specimen records of Aquilegia formosa in the Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria database
WA Flora Checklist: Aquilegia formosa checklist entry
OregonFlora: Aquilegia formosa information
E-Flora BC: Aquilegia formosa atlas page
CalPhotos: Aquilegia formosa photos
