Aquilegia flavescens S.Watson

Size

Aquilegia flavescens S.Watson reaches a height of 20–70 cm (8–28 in).

Foliage and Stem Characteristics

Its leaves are either smooth or downy, and its stems are covered in glandular hairs.

Sepal Characteristics

The flowers are nodding; the sepals, which curve backward, are usually yellow, but can sometimes be yellowish-pink or raspberry pink, and measure 12–20 mm (0.5–0.8 in) long.

Petal and Stamen Characteristics

The petals are white or cream, 7–10 mm long, with stamens that extend out past the petals.

Nectar Spur Characteristics

The nectar spurs range in color from yellow to raspberry pink, are slightly curved, and are 10–20 mm (0.4–0.8 in) long.

Habitat and Distribution

This species is native to mountain meadows, open woods, and alpine slopes in the Rocky Mountains, where it occurs across eastern Utah, Idaho, eastern Washington, northeastern Oregon, western Montana, northeastern Wyoming, and southern British Columbia and Alberta.

Elevation Range

It grows at altitudes between 1,300–3,500 m (4,300–11,500 ft).

Pollinators

Aquilegia flavescens is pollinated by hummingbirds, and is visited by bumblebees including the common carder bee and the golden-belted bumblebee.

Flowering Period and Hybridization

It flowers from June to August, and sometimes forms interbreeding hybrid populations with Aquilegia formosa var. formosa, which grows at lower elevations across most of A. flavescens' range.