Family: Ranunculaceae

Herbaceous perennial growing about 2x2’ with delicate leaves. Incredible yellow flowers appear April-September. The plant may go dormant if subjected to long periods without water, but is otherwise evergreen. Plants may reseed in moist locations.

Part sun to shade, regular water, hardy to -30˚F.

Aquilegia chrysantha is found in both the Chihuahuan and Sonoran deserts and is a nectar source for hummingbirds and insects, including bees and butterflies.

Aquilegia comes from Latin aquila, an eagle for the shape of the petals that look like an eagle talon, while chrysantha means with golden flowers.

Found in moist soils (usually in canyons) from 3,000-11,000 ft. in the southwestern United States from extreme southern Utah to Texas and northwestern Mexico. There is also a disjunct population in southern Colorado, which is often considered to be taxonomically distinct (var. rydbergii) —this variety is considered a sensitive species by the BLM and US Forest Service and a critically imperiled species by the state of Colorado. In Arizona, Aquilegia chrysantha is a protected plant.

Aquilegia chrysantha on iNaturalist

Photo by Max Licher, SEINET