Little Lanterns Columbine

Sweet, stunning dwarf wildflower! Add the showy whimsy of Little Lanterns Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis 'Little Lanterns'). A marvelous choice for shady spots, Little Lanterns are an improved, compact variety of the beloved wildflower. These low-growing perennials make a cheerful sight with their rich red and golden-yellow blooms. Enjoy their intricate spring blooms for many weeks!

The nodding flowers are raised high above the deeply lobed mound of fine-textured foliage on slender stalks. The pretty flowers feature five sepals that stretch backward over the true petals. Little Lanterns' sepals are a brilliant red with curving spurs, while the petals and stamens underneath are a buttery yellow. Your winter-hungry eyes will be thrilled to see their vivid hues!

Hummingbirds and butterflies love the nectar easily accessed in the hollow spurs with knobbed tips. Children are also very intrigued by these "Fairy Flowers". Snip a few of the flowers for tender little bud vases. Start a cute collection of these vases, then cluster a few on top of an antique mirror for a gorgeous tablescape.

Planting and Application:

Little Lanterns Columbine is an instantly recognizable native wildflower for woodland gardens! For a natural look, plant them higglety-pigglety here and there near the edge of your woodland path. Let them self-seed as they will! Rediscover them each year and take a deep breath to welcome the new growing season again! Make every moment count in a Cottage Garden!

Add several of them near your garden sculptures and garden benches. This petite selection makes a spectacular garden moment tucked around the corner in nooks and crannies for your guests to discover with delight. Craft an outdoor retreat with these lovely blooms and you'll be proud to lead them on garden tours from late spring through early summer.

In shade, they might look dainty, but Columbines grow wild on Alpine slopes and rocky ledges! Use them on the shady side of large boulders to gently soften the look. They'll also grow well in the shade of taller spring-blooming perennials like Peony or Bleeding Heart. Plant them next to a Butterfly puddling station, under the bold stems of a developing Butterfly Bush or Swamp Milkweed. They'll grow to shade your Columbine by mid-summer.

These cold-hardy perennials grow at high altitudes. Columbine is known as an "ephemeral" and deserves a special place in your Spring Garden. Let these tiny, wild beauties do their thing.

Use this beloved plant as one of the little details for a designer look. Twee Little Lanterns can be added to native landscapes and mixed borders. Why not maximize the impact of your investment? Create a larger impact by planting several along the edge of a planting bed or your patio containers. Their happy colors will add a charming look for over a month!

Plant them to perk up the look of your mature plantings, because Little Lanterns look great against an evergreen backdrop! Grow them on the north side of a shed or playhouse. Your kids and grandchildren will love to seek them out in spring!

• Nodding Red & Yellow Blooms
• Outstanding Two-Tone Flower Color & Form
• Rugged Nature, Delicate Looks!
• Nectar-Rich Resource & Dainty Cut Flowers
• Deeply Lobed Foliage & Compact Mounds
• Rock Gardens & Woodland Borders, Containers & Specimens

#ProPlantTips for Care:

Little Lanterns need no more than four to six hours of sunlight a day. They will not do well in full sun except in cooler USDA growing zones of 3 to 5, but in zones 6 to 8, please provide a spot in partial or afternoon shade.

Perennial Columbines prefer rich, well-drained soil. Add Nature Hills Root Booster according to the directions to supply beneficial mycorrhizal fungus for life-long benefits to the tiny feeder roots. Provide a moderate amount of water on a regular basis, especially for new installations. In the wild, these plants can display drought tolerance, but we recommend that you consistently give them water for the best results. Mulch over the roots, but please ensure that no mulch directly touches the stems. Pull it back away from the crown of the plant.

Deadhead as flowers fade to encourage a rebloom, and trim back the foliage when the leaves start to decline in late summer. Allow them to reseed as they will, following the whims of Mother Nature. Transplant the new seedlings to new areas as you like. The foliage can die back by the end of summer, so be sure to include larger plants nearby.

• Full Sun to Partial Shade
• Ultra Cold Hardy & Heat Tolerant
• Moderate Regular Moisture
• Widely Adaptable To Moist Well-Drained Soil
• Deer and Rabbits Seldom Severely Damage Them
• Improved Selection Resists Powdery Mildew

Every yard needs a wildflower or two! Plant your chance to smile next spring. Order our expertly grown Little Lanterns Columbine for your landscape today! Order your Little Lanterns Columbine for a special springtime accent plant from Nature Hills!