Columbine flowers can grow in a nodding or upright position, but the spurs of the flowers are a key characteristic. Although these spiky protrusions are highly ornamental, they evolved with the plant to serve as an essential survival trait: The length of the spurs accommodates different pollinators. For example, columbines that grew wild in areas populated by long-tongued hawk moths developed longer spurs over time.
Other differences in spur appearance distinguish columbine species from one another. The thickness of the spurs varies from stout to narrow. The position of the spurs in relation to the petals can appear straight, curved, hooked, and spreading or not spreading. With all these possibilities in flower appearance, it’s easy to see how a gardener can become a columbine aficionado!
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