Columbine in Zone 5a & 5b
Aquilegia vulgaris
Yes, columbine grows in zones 5a and 5b. Start seeds indoors Mar 8–Mar 15 and plant out May 17–May 24.
When to plant columbine in zone 5b
Zones 5a and 5b 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 8–Mar 15 |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | May 17–May 24 |
| 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 5b
These go outside within two weeks of columbine in zone 5b, so one planting day can cover them.
- NasturtiumMay 17–May 24
- MarigoldMay 17–May 24
- Ageratum (Flossflower)May 17–May 24
- Annual Geranium (Pelargonium)May 17–May 24
- Butterfly Weed (Asclepias)May 17–May 24
- Campanula (Bellflower)May 17–May 24
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 5's season
Zone 5b's frost-free window runs about 148 days, from May 10 to October 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 5b 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 | Mar 13–Mar 20 | May 22–May 29 | About a year after planting |
| 5a & 5b (your zone) | 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 5b calendar · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Columbine in USDA zone 5b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a bloom.
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