Texas Gold Columbine

Description:

Texas columbine is a clump-forming perennial that is grown not only for its flowers but also for its fern-like foliage. The Texas columbine is frost hardy and grows in all Texas zones. The ‘Texas Gold’ prefers a sunny location with some shade to shield from the heat of the summer sun.

Habitat:

Woodland portion of wildlife habitat yard.

Notes:

Unlike other columbines, ‘Texas Gold’ survives the summer, by sometimes going dormant, and starts actively growing in cool weather and rains of fall. They flower during late spring to reach a height of 2-3 feet. After growing a clump of fern-like foliage throughout the winter, they explode into blooms of fragrant, butter-yellow bell-shaped flowers with long, outward curving spurs, which appear to be hanging in air. ‘Texas Gold’ columbine must be grown in some shade, and can grow in dense shade but performs best with as much as half sun. The more shade there is, the less blooms there will be. The more sun there is, the more blooms there will be, but the foliage will burn or go dormant in the summer, however, this species tolerates heat and sun better than most other varieties. Plantings beneath deciduous trees, such as: Bald Cypress, Red Oak, Cedar Elm and Crape Myrtles are excellent as the trees provide shade during the hot summer months while allowing the winter sun to shine through while the plant is actively growing. Plant foliage can be cut to the ground (just above the crown from which foliage emerges) after bloom and seed drop have occurred. This helps the plant to generate new, lower-growing foliage for the summer months.