Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the Rocky Mountains.
Habitat: Moist woods and meadows, moderate to subalpine elevations.
Flowers: June-August
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
Conservation Status: Not of concern
Pollination: Apomixis, bumblebees, hummingbirds
Stout, erect perennial from a tuberous crown, the several stems 5-20 dm. tall, glabrous below and pubescent above.
Leaves alternate, cauline, long-petiolate below, becoming nearly sessile above; blades extremely variable, 5-20 cm. broad, palmately deeply 5-lobed, the segments obovate to oblanceolate, incised to toothed to nearly entire; bulblets often developed in the leaf axils.
Inflorescence a simple or branched raceme; pedicels slender, ascending; sepals 5, deep blue-purple or occasionally yellowish, the upper hood-like, 15-25 mm. high, the edges declined; lateral sepals obovate, up to 20 mm. long, lower sepals lanceolate, up to 15 mm. long; petals 2, concealed in the hood.
Follicles 3-5, 10-20 mm. long.
PNW Herbaria: Specimen records of Aconitum columbianum in the Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria database.
WA Flora Checklist: Aconitum columbianum checklist entry.
OregonFlora: Aconitum columbianum information.
E-Flora BC: Aconitum columbianum atlas page.
CalPhotos: Aconitum columbianum photos.
USDA Plants: Aconitum columbianum information.