Columbine is grown for its blooms, which open in summer. It's hardy across USDA zones 3 through 8 and shrugs off deer. Its summer flowers are a real draw for native bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and moths.
Zones
3-8
pH Range
6-8.5
Sun
Part Sun
Days to Maturity
---
Score Columbine on your exact land.
Zone averages can't see the slope, soil, frost, and sun that decide whether columbine actually takes — and those shift from one yard to the next. Enter your address and we'll score columbine against your land's real conditions.
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
No card required · your full report in seconds
What Columbine is
Columbine reaches around 2.5 feet at maturity. It blooms in summer. It's also deer-resistant.
How to grow Columbine
Columbine grows in USDA zones 3 through 8. Columbine does best in part sun — at least 4 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 6 to 8.5, on well-drained ground.
USDA Zones
3-8
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
6 - 8.5
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Part Sun
plant_species_v5.csv
Drainage
well (dry spells)
plant_species_v5.csv
Mature Height
2.5 ft
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost-Free Days
0+
plant_species_v5.csv
Start the season right
Plant columbine in part sun with at least 4 hours of direct sun, once the soil has warmed and frost risk has passed.
Match the soil
Columbine prefers pH 6 to 8.5 (USDA PLANTS Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Harvest at its peak
Cut columbine blooms in the cool of the morning, just as they open, for the longest display.
Good to know
One caution for pet owners — columbine is toxic to dogs and cats (mild severity). Keep it out of reach, and call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 in an emergency. (Source: ASPCA.)
Columbine is a standout pollinator plant — high value to bees and other pollinators. (Source: Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership.)
Where Columbine thrives
Columbine is hardy across USDA zones 3 through 8. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 3–8·Where Columbine growsOpen map →
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Columbine can grow in these states:
See if Columbine will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether columbine actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
25+ data sources analyzed in seconds
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Columbine in my zone?
Columbine grows in USDA hardiness zones 3 through 8 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
When should you plant Columbine?
Most growers plant columbine after the last spring frost, once the soil has warmed. Your local frost dates set the exact window — a Growable Ground report reads them for your address.
How much sun does Columbine need?
Columbine does well in partial sun — around 4 hours of direct sun, and it takes some afternoon shade in stride. That flexibility makes it a good match for a bed the house or a nearby tree shades for part of the day. A Growable Ground report maps how the sun actually falls on your land, hour by hour, so you can set it where the light lines up.
What soil does Columbine need?
Columbine prefers soil pH 6 to 8.5, on well-drained ground (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Columbine attract pollinators?
Yes — columbine's flowers are a strong nectar and pollen source for native bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and moths (Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership).
Is Columbine safe for pets?
Columbine is toxic to pets (dogs,cats) with mild severity. Keep it out of reach, and call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 in an emergency.