Add bright spring color in a small space with Aquilegia × 'Earlybird™ Yellow' (columbine). You will get tidy, mounded, blue-green foliage topped by spurred yellow blooms in early to mid spring, making it an easy fit for cottage borders, woodland edges, and patio containers.
Give it rich to average, well-drained soil and keep it evenly moist during active growth. Full sun to part shade works well; in warmer areas, afternoon shade helps the plant stay fresher longer. Mature size is compact, about 9-11 inches tall with a spread of roughly 8-12 inches, so it tucks neatly at the front of beds or along paths.
After flowering, you can deadhead for a cleaner look, or allow a few blooms to set seed if you want the plant to naturalize lightly. If foliage looks tired later in the season, simply shear or cut it back and let it regrow. Combine it with spring bulbs, ferns, heuchera, and other perennials that appreciate similar moisture and light. This selection is hardy in USDA Zones 3-8.