The Beautiful Red Shade Flower That Attracts Hummingbirds & Pollinators

A yard buzzing with bees and fluttering with butterflies and hummingbirds isn't just good for the environment; it's also good for your garden. While finding nectar- and pollen-rich flowers for sunny spots is easy, shady areas can be a bit more challenging. That's where the beautiful eastern red columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) and its stunning scarlet blooms come in. This perennial brightens shade gardens, while its nectar and pollen attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and other beneficial pollinators.

Native to the Eastern and Central United States and Canada, eastern red columbines bloom in spring, providing an important early-season nectar source for hummingbirds and other emerging pollen-bearers. It's no surprise that this flower is a huge hit, since red is the best color to instantly attract the tiny winged creatures to your garden. And unlike many popular pollinator plants, this one thrives in part shade to shady spots, making it perfect for bringing vibrant color to the less sunny areas of your yard. 

Reaching heights of around 3 feet, these flowers are ideal for the middle sections of garden borders, where smaller plants have space to grow in front of them and larger shrubs can create a dramatic backdrop. It also pairs well with sunshine-avoidant favorites like wild blue phlox, lady ferns, and violets (you'll want these to get a bit more light than the others), creating a layered rainbow of colors.

Hardy in zones 3 through 8, eastern red columbines aren't especially difficult to care for and can handle a surprising range of conditions. Although the plants perform best in light to medium shade, they can also thrive in full sun if the soil stays consistently moist. They appreciate relatively moist soil, though they're drought-tolerant once established. For the best growth, try to plant your columbines in a spot with fertile soil that drains well. If necessary, you can amend it with compost, as this will improve both nutrients and drainage. 

These flowers self-seed, so if you wish, you can let the plants reseed themselves throughout your garden. This will create more color and attract more pollinators over time. Otherwise, if you'd like to keep them contained, you can prune your columbine and remove the blooms as soon as they're spent.

Another benefit of columbines is that they are deer-resistant, so you shouldn't have to worry too much about hungry wildlife. And even after the flowers are gone for the year, they still have attractive foliage to enjoy. They are herbaceous, though, which means they will die back in the cold, so your low-light garden might need some hellebores or other evergreen perennials for winter color interest.