Plant Aquilegia × 'Earlybird™ Red White' (columbine) where you want early-season color in a compact footprint. You will get outward-facing, bicolor blooms that mix crisp white centers with rich red outer petals and spurs, rising above a neat mound of foliage. This selection stays around 9-11 inches tall, making it easy to tuck into the front of a border, a woodland edge, or a mixed perennial planting without blocking other spring favorites.
Give your columbine the light it prefers: partial shade is ideal, especially where afternoons are warm. You can also grow it in full sun if you provide steady moisture and avoid letting the soil dry hard during active growth and bloom. Aim for evenly moist, well-drained soil, and keep the crown from sitting in soggy spots.
After flowering, you can deadhead to keep the plant looking tidy and to reduce self-sowing. If foliage looks tired in summer, simply trim it back and let fresh leaves regrow. Watch for leaf miner trails and remove affected leaves promptly if you see them.
In the garden, this Aquilegia pairs naturally with other light-shade perennials and is a good choice when you want spring flowers that can also draw hummingbirds into the landscape.