Flower profile

Golden columbine

Aquilegia chrysantha

Golden columbine (Aquilegia chrysantha) is a flowering plant in the Ranunculaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly May–August across the U.S.

Native to Arizona

Golden columbine is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Arizona it's most often seen in bloom in May–August.

5states where USDA records it

2,149AZ sightings*

2,816U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Arizona

Quick look

Aquilegia chrysantha, the golden columbine, is a perennial herbaceous flowering plant native to the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. The plant, with a height of between 40 centimetres (16 in) and 120 centimetres (47 in), has yellow flowers. A. chrysantha. as with other members of the Aquilegia coerulea species complex, is evolved for pollination by hawkmoth.
From Wikipedia's article Aquilegia chrysantha, CC BY-SA 4.0.

It belongs to the Ranunculaceae family. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 5 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
NatureServe lists it as native to Arizona. ^NatureServe
In Arizona, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–August. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 2,149 research-grade sightings of it in Arizona, ranking #44 among the 132 flowers on our Arizona list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

In Arizona, most flowering sightings come in May–August.

Flowering records by month in Arizona (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (451 records)

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA): Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. ^{USFWS ECOS}
NatureServe global: GNR Not yet ranked worldwide. ^NatureServe
Arizona: Not listed Not on Arizona Native Plant Law protected plants (Ariz. Admin. Code R3-3 Art. 11, App. A, eff. Feb. 2, 2025). NatureServe: S3, vulnerable in Arizona. ^{AAC R3-3 App. A}
Rare elsewhere: Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: CO (S2), NV (S2), UT (S2). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Please leave it where it grows

Please don't pick or dig this flower: NatureServe ranks it S3 in Arizona. ^NatureServe

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no edibility or poison notes on its page), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people. ^{NC State Extension}

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list, and NC State Extension doesn't flag it for pets.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records golden columbine in 5 states.

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recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Utah.

Arizona counties with USDA records: Apache, Cochise, Coconino, Gila, Graham, Maricopa, Mohave, Navajo, Pima, Santa Cruz, Yavapai.

Names, range and relatives

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 24 counties across 5 states; the most are in Arizona (11), New Mexico (7), Texas (4).

Other Aquilegia on Bloomipedia (5): Red columbine, Western columbine, Blue columbine, Yellow columbine, Western red columbine.

More from the Ranunculaceae family (48 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Lesser celandine, Rue anemone, Wood anemone, Marsh marigold, White baneberry, Round-lobed hepatica, Red baneberry, Sharp-lobed hepatica.

More Arizona flowers

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Saguaro

Carnegiea gigantea

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Creosote bush

Larrea tridentata

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Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile AQCH.
iNaturalist, Aquilegia chrysantha: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Aquilegia chrysantha (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
Arizona: Arizona Native Plant Law protected plants (Ariz. Admin. Code R3-3 Art. 11, App. A, eff. Feb. 2, 2025).
Arizona: Arizona prohibited noxious weeds (Ariz. Admin. Code R3-4-245).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Aquilegia chrysantha (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: NC State Extension.
Photo: Sue Carnahan via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.