Botanical Name: Aquilegia × hybrida ‘Earlybird™ Yellow’

Common Name: Columbine

Hardiness Zone: Perennial in Most Climates (USDA Zones 3–8)

Size: 10–14" Tall × 10–14" Spread

Growth Habit: Compact, Upright, Clump-Forming Habit

Sunlight: Partial Shade to Full Sun (Best with Afternoon Shade in Warmer Regions)

Soil: Prefers Moist, Well-Drained Soil; Adapts to Average Garden Soils

Water Needs: Moderate; Consistent Moisture for Best Performance

Bloom Season: Early to Mid-Spring

Fertilizer: Light Feeding in Early Spring

Features: Soft Yellow Nodding Blooms, Ferny Blue-Green Foliage, Early Bloom Time, Pollinator friendly

Uses: Ideal for Shade Gardens, Woodland Gardens, Borders, Containers, and Early Spring Color

Patent: ✔ Patented

Plant Patent: PAS1258489

Propagation: ❌ Propagation Prohibited Without License

More About Aquilegia ‘Earlybird™ Yellow’

Aquilegia ‘Earlybird™ Yellow’ brings warm, cheerful color to early spring gardens with its soft yellow, nodding blooms and graceful spurred flowers. The buttery-yellow tones feel light and fresh, pairing beautifully with emerging spring foliage and providing a gentle contrast to blues, purples, and whites common in early-season plantings.

As part of the Earlybird™ series, this variety was bred for earlier bloom time, improved uniformity, and a compact growth habit. Unlike traditional columbines that can grow tall or bloom later in the season, ‘Earlybird™ Yellow’ flowers weeks earlier and stays neatly proportioned, making it especially useful for containers and front-of-border placements.

Why We Like It (Our Trials)

In our trials, ‘Earlybird™ Yellow’ has been a reliable early-season performer, delivering consistent blooms and a tidy clump year after year. It establishes quickly, does not require staking, and provides valuable color at a time when few perennials are in flower.

We especially like its versatility in design. The warm yellow blooms brighten shaded and partially shaded areas and pair naturally with hellebores, brunnera, early hostas, pulmonaria, and spring bulbs. Early pollinators, particularly native bees, visit the flowers regularly, adding ecological value to its ornamental appeal.

‘Earlybird™ Yellow’ vs. Other Aquilegia

Earlybird™ Yellow is the most cheerful and eye-catching variety in the series, bringing warmth that none of the white or bicolor selections can replicate. While Earlybird™ White and the bicolors excel in refinement and contrast, Yellow excels in brightness and seasonal energy. It feels more playful than Blue & White and more uniform than Red & White, making it especially effective in mass plantings where bold color is the goal. For gardeners looking to make an unmistakably sunny early-season statement, Earlybird™ Yellow stands apart.