Little Lanterns Columbine

Craft an outdoor retreat with a thoughtful selection of perennials, shrubs and trees from Nature Hills. In shade, 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! Little Lanterns Columbine is an instantly recognizable native wildflower for woodland gardens.

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 backwards over the true petals.

Little Lanterns sepals are a brilliant red, while the petals and stamens underneath are a Buttercup 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 with these "Fairy Flowers".

They might look dainty, but Columbine grows wild on Alpine slopes and rocky ledges. Give them no more than four hours of sunlight a day in well-drained soil.

This petite selection makes a spectacular garden moment tucked around the corner in nooks and crannies for your guests to discover with delight. You'll be proud to lead them on garden tours from late spring through early summer.

Columbine is known as an "ephemeral" and deserves a special place in your Spring Garden. Let these tiny, wild beauties do their thing.

Plant your chance to smile next spring. Order our expertly grown Little Lanterns Columbine for your landscape today!

How to Use Little Lanterns Columbine in the Landscape

Gardens work best when the element of time is considered. 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. Rediscover them each year and take a deep breath to welcome the new growing season again!

These cold-hardy perennials grow at high altitudes. Use them on the shady side of large boulders to gently soften the look.

Add several of them near your garden sculptures. Why not maximize the impact of your investment?

Plant them to perk up the look of your mature plantings. 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.

Create a larger impact by planting several along the edge of a planting bed. Their happy colors will add a charming look for over a month.

The foliage does die back by the end of summer, so be sure to include larger plants nearby. Make the most of spring with Little Lanterns, and shade them with sturdy summer bloomers.

They'll also grow well in the shade of taller spring-blooming perennials like Peony or Bleeding Heart. Make every moment count in a Cottage Garden!

Little Lanterns Columbine bridges the span between early spring-blooming bulbs and summer Astilbe. Underplant them near the unfurling fronds of Cinnamon Fern to cover their fleeting flowers.

Plant them next to a Butterfly puddling station, under the bold stems of a developing Butterfly Bush or Swamp Milkweed. They'll grow to take its spot by mid-summer.

For a naturalistic look, plant them higgelty piggelty here and there near the edge of your woodland path. Let them self-seed as they will!

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.

#ProPlantTips for Care

Little Lanterns need no more than four hours of sunlight a day. They will not do well in full sun, please provide a spot in partial or full shade.

They 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. 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.

Trim back the foliage when the leaves start to decline 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.

Order your Little Lanterns Columbine for a special springtime accent plant. Every yard needs a wildflower or two!