Songbird Cardinal Columbine

Songbird Cardinal is a compact columbine with upright, long-spurred red and white flowers above divided foliage. It suits sunny or partly shaded borders where its late-spring and early-summer display can be seen close up. ## Flowers and placement The [RHS Cardinal profile](https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/130507/aquilegia-cardinal-songbird-series/details) lists ‘Songbird Cardinal’ as a synonym and describes red outer petals, white or pale-pink inner petals, and flowers about 4–5 cm across. It recommends full sun or partial shade and moist but well-drained soil. [PanAmerican Seed](https://www.panamseed.com/PdfAssets/pdfpage.aspx?pdfid=130) lists Cardinal as deep red and white within its free-flowering Songbird series, whose garden color appears in late spring and early summer. [Acorn Farms](https://www.acornfarms.com/responsive/velocity/15AFcategories.php?pullname=AQUILEGIA+CARDINAL) lists a 24–30 inch height, 15–18 inch spread, zone 3, and flowers visited by bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Published dimensions vary by source and growing conditions; the existing size remains plausible. The [RHS genus guide](https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/aquilegia) describes clump-forming perennial growth and nectar-rich flowers attractive to bumblebees. Use it in cottage borders, woodland edges or as a cut flower. Columbines may be short-lived and self-sow; seedlings can differ from the named plant. ## Maintenance Water while plants establish and in dry spells. Remove faded stems to limit self-seeding or tidy the display, then cut back declining foliage after flowering. Avoid waterlogged ground and watch for leaf miners, sawfly, aphids and powdery mildew.