State Flower

Columbine

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The white and lavender columbine was officially declared the state flower on April 4, 1899. Digging or uprooting the flower on public lands is prohibited in Colorado.

Columbine
Colorado Blue Columbine

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Aquilegia caerulea is a species of Aquilegia flower native to the Rocky Mountains from Montana south to New Mexico and west to Idaho and Arizona. Its common name is Colorado Blue Columbine; sometimes it is called "Rocky Mountain Columbine",

Colorado Blue Columbine
Columbine blooming on West Maroon Pass Trail

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The state flower, Columbine, blooming on the West Maroon Pass trail.

Columbine blooming on West Maroon Pass Trail
Colorado blue columbine

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Colorado blue columbine (Aquilegia caerulea James, orth. var.) is a perennial flower belong to the Ranunculaceae family.

Colorado blue columbine

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The white and lavender Columbine, Aquilegia caerulea, was adopted as the official state flower on April 4, 1899 by an act of the General Assembly. In 1925, the General Assembly made it the duty of all citizens to protect this rare species from needless destruction or waste. To further protect this fragile flower, the law prohibits digging or uprooting the flower on public lands and limits the gathering of buds, blossoms and stems to 25 in one day. It is unlawful to pick the columbine on private land without consent of the land owner.

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Colorado State Archives

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