Perennial Flower
Ruby Port Columbine is a striking heirloom flower that brings deep crimson elegance to spring and early summer gardens. Growing 24 to 30 inches tall with a delicate spread of 12 to 18 inches, this hardy perennial thrives in zones 3 through 3 and produces abundant blooms from March through August. The flowers attract pollinators while remaining deer-resistant, a rare combination that makes this columbine both beautiful and practical for northern gardeners.
Full Sun
Moderate
3-3
30in H x 18in W
Perennial
Low
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Deep ruby-red flowers bloom prolifically from spring through summer, drawing hummingbirds and bees to the garden. Ruby Port thrives in full sun with moderate water, showing impressive cold hardiness down to zone 3. The plant's compact yet substantial form and deer resistance make it a reliable choice for borders and pollinator gardens, where it fills a role few other ornamentals can match.
Ruby Port Columbine is grown as an ornamental perennial, valued primarily for its stunning spring and summer flowers in garden borders, pollinator gardens, and cottage plantings. The blooms attract hummingbirds and beneficial insects throughout its long flowering season.
Start seeds indoors 8 to 10 weeks before your last frost date. First, stratify seeds for 3 weeks at 35 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit by placing them in dampened vermiculite or clean sand, enclosing in a plastic bag, and refrigerating. Remove the pre-chilled seeds from the refrigerator and sow them, then cover with a humidity dome and maintain temperatures between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Seedlings may emerge anywhere from 2 to 8 weeks after sowing, so patience is essential. Transplant seedlings as they appear.
Transplant hardened-off seedlings outdoors after the last frost date when soil temperatures have warmed. Space plants 1 inch apart in full sun.
Direct sow seeds in fall or earliest spring, either on the soil surface or barely covering them with soil.
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