Alternate name: Crimson Columbine, Scarlet Columbine

Family: Ranunculaceae, Buttercup view all from this family

Description Handsome red and yellow flowers hang at ends of branches above this bushy plant with several stems and many divided leaves.
Flowers: about 2" (5 cm) wide; sepals 5, petal-like, red, lanceolate, spreading; petals 5, yellow, shaped like sugar scoops, extending into backward-projecting spurs; stamens many, yellow, and styles 5, protruding from center of flower.
Leaves: repeatedly divided into leaflets 3/4-1 1/2" (2-3.8 cm) long, about as wide, each lobed and cleft across ends.
Height: 6-36" (15-90 cm).

Flower May-August.

Habitat Open woods, on banks, near seeps.

Range Southern Alaska to Baja California; east to western Montana and Utah.

Discussion The species name formosa, Latin for "beautiful," aptly describes this large plant, especially when it has hundreds of lovely flowers nodding over it. There are other species with mostly red flowers, which also attract hummingbirds as pollinators.