I had rescued many abused Columbines from my local nurseries last spring and summer, and they grew wonderfully last fall with some TLC to form many new crowns (I'm assuming we should call them crowns, but I'm speaking of the tall structure the base of the leaf stalks are attached to).
My concern is how to properly protect these crowns over the winter. I allow the leaves to die back and then carefully snip them off in the late fall. I cover most of my other perennials after the ground freezes, but I've noticed the last few years that columbines have a tendency to rot very quickly if we get just one day of snow melt. Can I forego the winter covering of my Columbines without causing them harm? I'm assuming since they are hybridized from the very hardy indigenous A. canadensis they would do fine...but am I assuming too much?
One final thing, I'm sure that a lack of mulch will increase my leaf-miner problem, but they don't bother me much, I actually think their little leaf-tunnels add a little interest
Thanks,
-Paul-
). A. canadensis has the beautiful, nodding yellow and red flowers with very pronounced spurs, and A. vulgaris is a european introduction with a larger color range and shorter spurs. I'm interested in learning more about A. flabellata...where is it's natural region? You mentioned it is small in stature, does it have a different sepal and petal structure as well?