Classic Blue-and-White Spring Blooms

Swan Blue and White Columbine (Aquilegia caerulea 'Swan Blue and White') captures the look of the wild Rocky Mountain columbine in a bigger, bolder form, with large, long-spurred flowers of sky-blue sepals around a crisp white center in mid to late spring. The serene bicolor blooms hover over lacy blue-green foliage and call in hummingbirds and early bees. Deer-resistant and easy, it's a beautiful spring choice for Edina, Maple Grove, and Woodbury gardens.

Landscape Uses

Use Swan Blue and White in cottage gardens, woodland edges, pollinator and hummingbird gardens, and mixed borders. It pairs beautifully with hostas, ferns, and other spring perennials, and the flowers are lovely for cutting.

Best Time to Plant

Plant in spring or early fall, when cooler weather and steady moisture help roots establish.

How to Plant

Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and just as deep. Set the crown level with the soil, backfill, water in well, and mulch 2–3 inches deep, keeping mulch off the crown.

Watering

First Year: Water deeply 1–2 times per week to establish the roots.
After Year One: Water during dry spells; columbine likes moderate, even moisture.
Drip Irrigation: A drip line keeps moisture even and helps keep foliage dry.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does it attract hummingbirds?
Yes, the spurred spring flowers are a favorite early-season nectar source for hummingbirds and bees.

Is it hardy in Minnesota?
Yes, hardy to Zone 3 and reliable statewide.

Will it come back every year?
Columbine is a short-lived perennial that often self-seeds, so it tends to persist in the garden.

Is it deer resistant?
Yes, deer generally avoid columbine.

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Pair Swan Blue and White with our other Swan and Earlybird columbines, hostas, and ferns for a colorful spring border.