Aquilegia formosa red columbine Ranunculaceae Red columbine is a slender erect perennial reaching 1 m. The leaves are mostly basal and twice divided in 3's with rounded, glaucous, blue-green segments. Red columbine has striking pendent flowers of 5 spurred red sepals and 5 yellow petals; the yellow stamens protrude as a central tuft. It is common from the lowlands to timberline in open to partly shaded moist sites such as roadsides, meadows, and forest clearings.