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Check these first
- Feel the soil 2 inches deep.
- Check the drainage of the planting site.
- Observe the amount of direct sunlight the plant receives.
Likely causes
Overwatering
Most likelyHow to tell: The leaves look limp and yellow, and the soil feels constantly wet or swampy to the touch.
What to do: Stop watering immediately and let the top 2 inches of soil dry out. Ensure your planting site has excellent drainage to prevent water from pooling around the roots.
Too much sun
PossibleHow to tell: Leaves turn yellow or bleached in the middle of the day when sun exposure is most intense.
What to do: Move the plant to a spot with partial shade. If it is in the ground, add a layer of mulch to keep the roots cool.
Find out what's wrong with your eastern red columbine
The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
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When to worry
It is normal for the oldest bottom leaves to yellow and drop as the plant finishes its blooming cycle. Worry if the yellowing spreads rapidly to the newer growth at the top.
Stopping it coming back
Maintain a consistent watering schedule and ensure the soil drains well after heavy rain.
Eastern red columbine: yellow leaves? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your eastern red columbine and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
Or go to pocketbotanist.app/get on your phone
Get the app · Or check it from a photo now, free
Questions people ask
- Should I cut off the yellow leaves?
- Yes, you can snip them off with clean scissors to keep the plant looking tidy. This also helps you see if new yellowing occurs.
- Can fertilizer fix yellow leaves?
- Only if the yellowing is caused by a nutrient deficiency, which is rare. Do not fertilize a stressed plant until you have corrected the watering.
More problems with Eastern red columbine
- Why does my Eastern red columbine have spots on its leaves?
- What is eating my Eastern red columbine leaves?
- Why do my Eastern red columbine leaves have brown tips?
- Why is my Eastern red columbine drooping?
- Why is my Eastern red columbine dropping its leaves?
- Why is my Eastern red columbine not blooming?
- Why is my Eastern red columbine wilting?
- Why is my Eastern red columbine growing so tall and thin?
Back to the Eastern red columbine guide
This article was generated with AI on from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.