Audubon® Columbine

After a long winter without their perky presence, it’s a joy each spring to see the Ruby-throated Hummingbirds return from their annual sojourn down South. Welcome them back to your garden with Eastern Red Columbine! This jaunty native wildflower starts blooming exactly when the hummers return, its blaze-red petals drawing them near for a closer look. So begins the mutually beneficial dance that has gone on for eons—the birds getting sweet nectar to fuel their frantic flights, and the plants getting pollination. Finches and buntings benefit from Eastern Red Columbine as well—they eat the seeds in late summer and fall.

Native to most of the eastern U.S. and extending into Canada, Eastern Red Columbine is a well-known and well-loved wildflower. It has been given many pet names, including rock bells, rock lily, honeysuckle, cluckies, and meeting houses (for the resemblance of the spurs to the steeples on meeting houses, or churches). “Columbine” itself comes from the Latin word for dove. To some early Native American tribes, Columbine was thought to be effective as a love potion. To Europeans, however, it inspired other ideas. To give a woman a Columbine bouquet indicated that her husband had been unfaithful!

Eastern Red Columbine blooms at the same time as another of our native wildflowers, Woodland Phlox. The two make a pretty pair. Try them together in light shade at the forest’s edge or under a shade tree in your yard.

We do the hard part. Our trees and plants are grown and cared for by only the best, local growers for years before they find their forever home in your landscape. Bower & Branch is known for having hard-to-find, substantial sizes and selection. The quality of our trees and plants are consistent in health and vigor—always ready for immediate impact in your garden and instant curb appeal. We believe in empowering homeowners with the truth about strong, healthy and structurally sound plants that are grown to perform in the ground after they leave the nursery for home delivery, always fresh inventory from the grower

Audubon is devoted to protecting birds and the places they need, while Bower & Branch is devoted to the growth of true native trees and plants–no cultivars or hybrids. Together, we strive to unite communities in conservation and inspire individuals to cultivate a better world for birds starting in their own backyards, balconies, or patios. By guiding and recommending trees and plants truly native and beneficial to your region, we can really start to make a difference.

What is the definition of Native?

“In the United States, a native plant is defined as one that was naturally found in a particular area before European colonization. Native plants are the foundation of a region’s biodiversity, providing essential food sources and shelter for birds, especially those threatened by the changing climate. Since native plants are adapted to local precipitation and soil conditions, they generally require less upkeep, therefore helping the environment and saving you time, water, and money.” – The National Audubon Society

Learn how you can help birds in your home and community through Audubon’s Plants for Birds program.

Audubon® is a licensed and registered trademark of the National Audubon Society. All rights reserved.