Red Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) is in the buttercup family family (Ranunculaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 14,529 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in May.
Nationally it blooms mainly from April to June, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Red Columbine: observations by month (U.S.)
About Red Columbine
Aquilegia canadensis (Canadian or Canada columbine, eastern red columbine, wild columbine) is an herbaceous perennial native to woodland and rocky slopes in eastern North America, prized for its red and yellow flowers. It readily hybridizes with other species in the genus Aquilegia.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Red Columbine by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 1,398 | May | May–May |
| Virginia | 1,394 | June | Apr–Jul |
| Wisconsin | 1,331 | May | May–Jun |
| North Carolina | 1,103 | April | Apr–May |
| Minnesota | 1,068 | May | May–Jun |
| Ohio | 945 | May | Apr–May |
| Michigan | 921 | May | May–Jun |
| Illinois | 728 | May | May–May |
| Vermont | 721 | May | May–May |
| Massachusetts | 631 | May | May–Jun |
| Pennsylvania | 575 | May | Apr–May |
| Tennessee | 526 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Indiana | 369 | May | May–May |
| Kentucky | 342 | April | Apr–May |
| Missouri | 311 | May | Apr–May |
| Maryland | 253 | April | Apr–May |
| New Jersey | 232 | May | Apr–May |
| Iowa | 217 | May | May–May |
| Connecticut | 205 | May | May–May |
| West Virginia | 169 | April | Apr–Jun |
| Maine | 167 | May | May–May |
| New Hampshire | 162 | May | May–May |
| Georgia | 127 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Texas | 125 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Arkansas | 108 | April | Apr–May |
| Alabama | 73 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Florida | 57 | March | Mar–Mar |
| Nebraska | 47 | May | May–May |
| South Dakota | 43 | June | May–Jun |
| Kansas | 42 | May | Apr–May |
| Oklahoma | 38 | April | Apr–May |
| Rhode Island | 31 | May | May–May |
| District of Columbia | 20 | April | Apr–May |
| South Carolina | 19 | April | Apr–May |
| Delaware | 16 | April | Apr–May |
| North Dakota | 13 | May | May–Jun |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (buttercup family)
Lesser Celandine
Western Columbine
Rue Anemone
Marsh Marigold
Wood Anemone
Blue Columbine
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 Red Columbine?
Nationally, May has the most observations, with the main season from April to June.
Where is Red Columbine most often seen?
The most observations come from New York, Virginia, Wisconsin.