What's eating my blue columbine?

Blue Columbine (Colorado's state flower) is reliably attacked by columbine leaf miners — serpentine tunnels disfigure nearly all leaves by midsummer. Aphids work over flower stems, sawfly larvae defoliate plants, and deer are a significant threat in mountain garden settings. Cutting foliage to the ground post-bloom resets the plant.

Sinuous white-to-tan tunnels throughout leaf tissue; entire leaves go papery and brown in severe infestations. Remove affected leaves immediately; cut the whole plant to the ground after bloom — regrowth is clean; avoid overhead irrigation.

Soft-bodied colonies on buds and new shoots; leaves curl, stems distort; honeydew fosters sooty mold. Insecticidal soap or neem oil spray; water jet to dislodge; lacewings and parasitic wasps provide natural control.

Larvae feed in groups, rapidly consuming leaf tissue and leaving only veins; defoliation can be complete within days. Check undersides of leaves for larval clusters; spray with insecticidal soap; hand-pick and destroy larvae promptly.

Stems and flowers browsed; particularly prevalent at higher elevations where Aquilegia caerulea grows naturally. Deer-proof fencing in high-pressure areas; repellent sprays reapplied after rain; plant within mixed borders to reduce targeting.