Columbine in Zone 4a & 4b
Aquilegia vulgaris
Yes, columbine grows in zones 4a and 4b. Start seeds indoors Mar 13–Mar 20 and plant out May 22–May 29.
When to plant columbine in zone 4b
Zones 4a and 4b 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 13–Mar 20 |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | May 22–May 29 |
| 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 4b
These go outside within two weeks of columbine in zone 4b, so one planting day can cover them.
- NasturtiumMay 22–May 29
- MarigoldMay 22–May 29
- Ageratum (Flossflower)May 22–May 29
- Annual Geranium (Pelargonium)May 22–May 29
- Butterfly Weed (Asclepias)May 22–May 29
- Campanula (Bellflower)May 22–May 29
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 4's season
Zone 4b's frost-free window runs about 128 days, from May 15 to September 20. 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 4b 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 | Mar 28–Apr 4 | Jun 6–Jun 13 | About a year after planting |
| 4a & 4b (your zone) | 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 4b calendar · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Columbine in USDA zone 4b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a bloom.
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