Oriental columbine is a perennial wildflower native to East Asia, where it grows at forest edges and on grassy slopes. Its purple and pale yellow flowers have sharply hooked, horn-like extensions behind the petals.
Appearance
Growth form
A that dies back each winter and regrows in spring.
Flowers
Pointed purple about 1 in (20–30 mm) long surround pale yellow petals. Each petal ends in a purple about 0.8 in (20 mm) long that is strongly hooked.
Fruit
Dry pods split open to release shiny black seeds about 0.08 in (2 mm) long.
Both can have curved spurs. Oriental columbine usually shows purple outer flower parts with pale yellow inner petals and pointed sepals; European columbine garden plants vary widely in color, so a flower photo alone may be uncertain.
Why they get mixed up · Both are columbines grown for nodding, spurred flowers.
Eastern columbine has red and yellow flowers with spurs that point upward. Oriental columbine has purple outer sepals, pale yellow petals, and sharply hooked spurs.
Why they get mixed up · Both have hanging flowers with long spurs.
Where it lives
Typical habitats
Forest edges
Grassy slopes
Range
Native to East Asia, including Korea, Japan, China, and southeastern Siberia. It is not native to the US.
Preferred conditions
Grows at forest edges and on grassy slopes, from about 1,300 to 8,900 ft (400–2,700 m) above sea level.