Large Soft-Yellow Spring Blooms That Hummingbirds Love

Swan Yellow Columbine (Aquilegia caerulea 'Swan Yellow') opens big, clear soft-yellow flowers with elegant long spurs in mid to late spring, dancing above lacy, blue-green foliage. Columbines are early-season magnets for hummingbirds and bees, and the large-flowered Swan series delivers an especially showy display on a neat, upright plant. Deer-resistant and easy, it's a cheerful spring performer for Edina, Maple Grove, and Woodbury gardens.

Landscape Uses

Use Swan Yellow 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 Yellow with our other Swan and Earlybird columbines, hostas, and ferns for a colorful spring border.