Columbine in Zone 3a & 3b
Aquilegia vulgaris
Yes, columbine grows in zones 3a and 3b. Start seeds indoors Mar 28–Apr 4 and plant out Jun 6–Jun 13.
When to plant columbine in zone 3b
Zones 3a and 3b share the same average frost dates, so this page covers both.
Method: Start indoors: Start indoors from seed, then transplant outside. It needs a head start most zones can't give it by direct-sowing alone.
| Start indoors | Mar 28–Apr 4 |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Jun 6–Jun 13 |
| Estimated bloom | About a year after planting |
Spacing: 1 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 1.5-2.5 ft.
Plant alongside it in zone 3b
These go outside within two weeks of columbine in zone 3b, so one planting day can cover them.
- NasturtiumJun 6–Jun 13
- MarigoldJun 6–Jun 13
- Ageratum (Flossflower)Jun 6–Jun 13
- Annual Geranium (Pelargonium)Jun 6–Jun 13
- Butterfly Weed (Asclepias)Jun 6–Jun 13
- Campanula (Bellflower)Jun 6–Jun 13
Columbine is a woodland-edge perennial known for its distinctive spurred flowers, which look almost architectural next to most garden blooms. It's an easy, long-lived plant once established, but like a lot of perennials grown from seed, it takes its time getting there.
How columbine fits zone 3's season
Zone 3b's frost-free window runs about 98 days, from May 30 to September 5. Columbine takes about a year from planting to first bloom, so it spans more than one growing season.
Columbine planting windows in every zone
Zone 3b is highlighted. Useful for comparing against a neighbouring zone, or for a garden somewhere else.
| Zone | Start indoors | Sow or plant out | Bloom |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3a & 3b (your zone) | Mar 28–Apr 4 | Jun 6–Jun 13 | About a year after planting |
| 4a & 4b | Mar 13–Mar 20 | May 22–May 29 | About a year after planting |
| 5a & 5b | Mar 8–Mar 15 | May 17–May 24 | About a year after planting |
| 6a & 6b | Feb 21–Feb 28 | May 2–May 9 | About a year after planting |
| 7a & 7b | Feb 6–Feb 13 | Apr 17–Apr 24 | About a year after planting |
| 8a & 8b | Jan 21–Jan 28 | Apr 1–Apr 8 | About a year after planting |
| 9a & 9b | Dec 14–Dec 21 | Feb 22–Mar 1 | About a year after planting |
Good companions
No well-established companions for columbine.
Where to buy columbine seeds
Botanical Interests · True Leaf Market · Burpee (each supplier's columbine seeds)
See why we recommend these suppliers →
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See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing columbine" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
← Back to the full zone 3b calendar · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Columbine in USDA zone 3b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a bloom.
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