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Columbine s one of those wildlflowers that just about anyone can recognize. The wild form grows along the entire Blue Ridge, and has been used to create a number of garden varieties commonly available at nurseries. The flowers have a unique form, very hard to describe in words. They are red with yellow centers, hang down like bells, and are formed of 5 joined chambers each with a spur pointing up. If you look inside the flower, you'll see a formation that reminds you of a honeycomb. The leaves are fan-shaped with three lobes, deep green above and pale green below. They spread by seed easily, making it a garden favorite. It prefers semi-to-full shade in rich soil. It can begin growing as early as February after a warm winter, begin blooming by March, and you may find it in bloom through most of the summer depending on its location.You may occasionally see a blue form - this is not native to the Eastern U.S., it's a garden escapee.