COMMON NAME
SCIENTIFIC NAME
ALSO KNOWN AS
Eastern columbine
PLANT FAMILY
Buttercup family (Ranunculaceae)
PLANT GROUP
Wildflowers and Herbs
Red columbines have red, tubular flowers that hang downwards with upward pointing claw-like spurs. They typically have leaves divided in threes which each have three lobes. Hummingbirds and bees are important pollinators of this species.
Eastern red columbine is pollinated by hummingbirds (notice the red, tubular flowers). In northern latitudes, bees are also important pollinators of this species. Seeds of the red columbine have been used for a variety of medicinal purposes, from treating kidney ailments to relieving rashes caused by poison ivy.
Budburst is a project of the
Chicago Botanic Garden
One of the treasures of the
Forest Preserves of Cook County
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