Aquilegia Express: Blue Columbines
Aquilegia scopulorum, Utah columbine
The Utah columbine occurs in Nevada and Utah.
You can see that the images of Aquilegia scopulorum on this web page demonstrate the diversity of color exhibited by this mountain wildflower. Photo by Cheri Howell.
Range map of Aquilegia scopulorum. Courtesy of Flora of North America.
Aquilegia scopulorum ranges in height from 5 to 30 cm. The foliage is glabrous and the leaves are glabrous above and slightly glaucous below. The flowers are large and erect. The sepals are blue to white sometimes a light reddish purple, 15 to 22 mm long, and spreading. The blades are white, blue, reddish purple, and sometimes tinged with yellow, 8 to 14 mm long. The spurs are blue to white or reddish purple, 25 to 40 mm long and straight. The stamens do not extend beyond the blades.
Aquilegia scopulorum is found growing rocky slopes in subalpine forests and meadows.
Aquilegia scopulorum. Photo by Kate Walker.
Aquilegia scopulorum. Photo by Kate Walker.
Aquilegia scopulorum. Photo by Kate Walker.
Aquilegia scopulorum.
The Utah columbine occurs in high elevation habitats with the surface dominated by cobbles of limestone. Photo by Teresa Prendusi.
Utah columbine habitat, Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, Nevada. Photo by Kate Walker.