Columbine in Zone 5a & 5b
Aquilegia vulgaris
When to plant columbine in zone 5b
Zones 5a and 5b share the same average frost dates in our data, so this page covers both.
Method: Start indoors: Start indoors from seed, then transplant outside. Columbine 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 | May 16 '28–May 23 '28 (~365 days after transplanting) |
Spacing: 1 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 1.5-2.5 ft.
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 needs about 365 days from transplant to first harvest.
Good companions
No standout companions recorded yet for Columbine.
Where to buy 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 · Full companion planting guide · Full plant profile · 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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