Red Columbine

Member of Crowfoot Family

Blooms: March - May

The Columbine is a perennial herb about 2 ft. tall. It grows in moist, usually shaded areas of limestone cliffs, ravines and mossy boulders. It does not grow in all areas of Texas. Mostly it can be found in North Central and Eastern Panhandle areas.

It's blooms are quite unique and very attractive to butterflies and insects. This plant is not often found in the wild. They are easily raised in gardens from planting of seeds in fall. They need moist, semishaded areas. There are also yellow and the very rare white.

This plant is potentially poisonous, but it was used by some Native tribes both medicinally and as a love charm. It is one of many larval food plants of the Spring Azure Butterfly. Columbine comes from a Greek word meaning "doves" as it resembles a group of doves.

"Behold I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents and harmless as doves."

Matthew 10:16