Western Columbine

Description:

Western Columbine is a native wildflower which has reddish orange outside petals/spurs & yellow center. The flowers are edible as a decorative salad garnish, having a sweet nectar at the base of the flower (in the knobs of the spurs) which (akin to honeysuckle) often entices children to pick them from the garden & suck at the back of the flower. The leaves are also edible early in their season when still tender, either in salads or cooked. (Info from Paghat's Garden - see link in references)

Habitat:

Its natural range extends from Alaska & British Columbia to Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Montana, Colorado, & Nevada. It's somewhat deer resistant, rabbits seem not to like it at all, yet it is attractive to hummingbirds, butterflies & sundry pollinators. It's adaptable to most zones & many conditions, as easy as any showy wildflower gets. It can do very nicely in full morning sun, or dappled afternoon sun, or even full afternoon sun with sufficient watering. Flower stems reach two feet of height to as high as four feet, over a leafy clump one or two feet high & a foot or so wide. It is at its height of flower in May, but deadheading & persistently moist soil can keep it blooming well into summer. (Info from Paghat's Garden - see link in references)

Notes:

Sorry for the blurry picture ... I took it with my iPod this summer. Originally when I posted this spotting, I called it an "unknown honeysuckle" because honeysuckle is what everyone around these parts call it. Turns out that its not a honeysuckle at all. The confusion comes from the fact that they have the sweet nectar-filled nobs on the end of each spur, like a honeysuckle. We often like to pick them while hiking for a sweet treat! :)