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Aquilegia shockleyi
Also called Crimson Columbine, Scarlet Columbine, Western Columbine
Shockley's columbine is a short-lived perennial wildflower of the Mojave and southern Nevada that grows in moist spots like springs and riparian areas. It is grown only rarely in gardens, and it is best kept moist and cool, sited where it gets some shade.
Aquilegia shockleyi, commonly known as Shockley's columbine, the Mojave columbine, and the desert columbine, is a species of perennial flowering plant of the genus Aquilegia (columbine) in the family Ranunculaceae. It is native to southern Nevada and southeastern California in the United States, where it congregates around wet areas.
A. shockleyi produces stems that can grow to 100 cm (39 in) tall. The species blooms in the spring and summer in its natural range, with flowers from April to August. The flowers are red, with yellow and green shades also observed. The flowers possess nectar spurs typically extending 12–25 mm (0.47–0.98 in) long. When consumed raw, the flowers have substantial quantities of nectar and a sweet taste.
In 1946, Munz reported that Aquilegia shockleyi was not sold in cultivation. In 2003, Nold reported that the species was in the horticultural trade. Nold said that the species was short-lived, surviving in the garden just long enough to sow seeds.
While plants related to A. shockleyi are known to contain toxins, the non-profit edible plant organization Plants for a Future reports no records of toxicity in the species as of 2025. The organization lists the flowers of A. shockleyi as edible, saying that the flowers – when consumed raw – have significant amounts of nectar and a sweet taste.
The natural range of Aquilegia shockleyi is found in southern Nevada and southeastern California in the western United States. In California, the species ranges into the Mojave Desert.
Aquilegia alpina · Aquilegia amaliae · Fan Columbine · Aquilegia apuana · Aquilegia aradanica · Aquilegia aragonensis · Dark Columbine · Aquilegia atrovinosa · Atwood's Columbine · Aquilegia aurea · Aquilegia ballii · Aquilegia baluchistanica
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Aquilegia shockleyi by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
