Sierra Columbine
Great wildflower year here in the Sierra. Recently I’ve been working Eastside canyons in particular to hunt down sierra Columbines. The Sierra Nevada have two prominent Columbines; the Crimson columbine (Aquilegia formosa) and the Alpine or Sierra Columbine (Aquilegia pubescens). The Crimson is the common red columbine seen at lower elevations. The latter has larger, all cream to yellow flowers with longer, more delicate spurs. Flowers are erect, not nodding, and the form is similar to the Colorado columbine (Aquilegia coerulea). The Sierra Columbine is native to the central Sierra Nevada, at middle to high elevations. When the Sierra and Crimson grow in close proximity, the result can show in a rainbow of color morphs.
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