Blue Columbine (Aquilegia coerulea) is in the buttercup family family (Ranunculaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 6,053 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in July.
Nationally it blooms mainly from June to August, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Blue Columbine: observations by month (U.S.)
About Blue Columbine
Aquilegia coerulea is a species of Aquilegia flower native to the Rocky Mountains from Montana south to New Mexico and west to Idaho and Arizona. Its common name is Colorado blue columbine; sometimes it is called "Rocky Mountain columbine," but this properly refers to Aquilegia saximontana.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Blue Columbine by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | 5,266 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Utah | 400 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Wyoming | 235 | July | Jun–Jul |
| New Mexico | 106 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Idaho | 24 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Montana | 11 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Arizona | 6 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Nevada | 5 | July | Jun–Jul |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (buttercup family)
Lesser Celandine
Red Columbine
Western Columbine
Rue Anemone
Marsh Marigold
Wood Anemone
Tenpetal Anemone
Prairie Pasqueflower
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Blue Columbine?
Nationally, July has the most observations, with the main season from June to August.
Where is Blue Columbine most often seen?
The most observations come from Colorado, Utah, Wyoming.