Columbine (Aquilegia caerulea 'Rotstern')

Overview

The striking Aquilegia caerulea ‘Rotstern’, commonly known as Columbine, offers exceptional springtime drama with its unique coloring. This cultivar distinguishes itself by featuring crimson red sepals and spurs contrasted beautifully against creamy white corollas, creating a star-like effect in the garden. As a bushy, clump-forming herbaceous perennial, it brings reliable, medium-height structure to mixed borders.

Aquilegia caerulea ‘Rotstern’ is relatively easygoing, thriving in average, well-drained soil within a wide range of hardiness zones. Gardeners appreciate its tolerance for both full sun and partial shade conditions, making placement flexible. Although its foliage may naturally decline by mid-summer, proper spring care ensures vigorous reemergence next season.

Valued for both its aesthetic appeal and practical durability, this variety of Columbine fits well into cottage gardens or naturalized settings. Its structure and vibrant spring display make it an excellent addition for those looking to attract butterflies and hummingbirds to their landscapes before the full heat of summer sets in.

Fast Facts

• Plant Family: Ranunculaceae
• Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
• Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 3-8
• Size at Maturity:
  • Height: 1.5-2 ft
  • Spread: 1.5-2 ft
• Bloom Time: April to May
• Bloom Description: Red sepals & spurs and white corollas
• Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
• Water Needs: Medium
• Maintenance Level: Medium

How to Grow

Planting Aquilegia caerulea ‘Rotstern’ should ideally occur in spring or fall in prepared sites. This Columbine flourishes best in average, medium soils that are well-drained. While it tolerates a broad range of soils, avoid heavy, poorly drained ground at all costs. For the best foliage and flower performance, aim for locations that receive full sun to light or moderate partial shade, especially where soils are richer and consistently moist.

Ongoing care requires a medium watering schedule to keep soils uniformly moist, particularly following the initial bloom period to maintain attractive foliage appearance. While heavy fertilization is generally unnecessary, ensuring adequate soil richness before planting benefits the plant. A key maintenance step involves removing flowering stems promptly after the initial bloom finishes; this practice encourages the plant to produce a second flush of flowers.

If the foliage deteriorates significantly by mid to late summer, do not hesitate to cut the entire plant back to the ground level. This pruning encourages fresh, clean growth before dormancy. Aquilegia caerulea ‘Rotstern’ is often grown from seed, and under optimal conditions, it may self-seed gently in the garden, though cross-pollination with other Columbine varieties is possible.

Flower Qualities

• Showy

Noteworthy Characteristics

Aquilegia caerulea, commonly called Rocky Mountain columbine, is a bushy, clump-forming perennial which occurs in the U.S. Rocky Mountains at elevations of 6000 to 12000’ from Montana south to New Mexico. ‘Rotstern’ is a bushy, clump-forming columbine that typically grows 18-24” tall and features large, upward facing, long-spurred, primarily two-tone flowers with star-like, creamy white corollas (5 petals) and with crimson red sepals and spurs. The genus name refers to the eagle’s talon resemblance of the flower’s spurs, and ‘Rotstern’ specifically offers these vibrant red and white tones in spring.

Landscape Uses

The versatility of Columbine makes Aquilegia caerulea ‘Rotstern’ suitable for several design applications, ranging from formal structure to wilder settings. It is highly recommended for use in borders where its mid-height stature provides a lovely mid-layer accent. Furthermore, it naturalizes beautifully, mingling well in native plant gardens or drifting through open woodlands that receive dappled light.

Consider integrating this cultivar into cottage gardens where its slightly informal, spurred flowers fit the romantic aesthetic perfectly. Because it performs well in light shade, it can brighten up areas near deciduous trees that offer summer cover. The specialized bloom structure also marks it as a fantastic selection for dedicated hummingbird gardens seeking reliable spring nectar sources.

Tolerances

• Rabbit
• Deer

Potential Problems

This specific Columbine typically exhibits high resistance, suffering from no serious insect or disease problems under proper cultural conditions. The most common issue gardeners face is the natural mid-summer decline of foliage appearance once the main bloom cycle is complete. Gardeners manage this cosmetic issue easily: when the foliage depreciates significantly, plants should be cut back cleanly to the ground level. This pruning action is essential for maintaining garden tidiness and often encourages a late season renewal of healthier leaves.

Companion Planting

Due to its requirement for consistent moisture and preference for morning sun or afternoon shade in hotter climates, Aquilegia caerulea ‘Rotstern’ pairs well with plants that share similar cultural needs. Consider positioning it near Hosta varieties or Astilbe, which appreciate similar soil moisture levels and provide lush, textural contrast when the Columbine finishes blooming. For spring color combinations, early bulbs like Daffodils or Tulips make excellent partners whose foliage will mature and help screen the Columbine as it begins to fade.

Propagation Tips

While Aquilegia caerulea ‘Rotstern’ can generally be purchased as seed (and often comes true to type), division is another method for maintaining established clumps, although Columbine generally dislikes being heavily disturbed. If collecting seed from existing plants, remember that there is a risk of cross-pollination with neighboring varieties, which may result in offspring that vary from the desired crimson and white appearance. For successful naturalizing, allow some spent flower heads to remain to facilitate gentle reseeding in favorable spots.

Conclusion

Aquilegia caerulea ‘Rotstern’ provides fantastic visual interest during the spring transition period with its unique, bi-colored flowers, solidifying its place as a garden favorite. This sturdy herbaceous perennial is both deer and rabbit tolerant, and its reliable performance across USDA zones 3 through 8 makes it widely adaptable. Evaluate your garden’s moisture levels and ensure adequate drainage before planting this gorgeous Columbine for a spectacular late spring display.