I would dig around the plant and see if something is eating the roots. I have never had a columbine wilt before. Are they getting enough moisture and are they well drained. Columbine need moist but well drained soil

Penny

The soil is the best in my yard. It is well drained and moist. I have seen a few slugs around, not enough to make me worry, but I wonder if that could be the matter. One other I was worried about looks fine today. This one in particular looks horrible. Now I'm afraid to get more columbine for a new humongous bed I'm starting.

Hmmm. This is really mysterious. I have had slugs eat plants but never noticed that they have caused a plant to wilt. Are the roots beginning to hold onto the soil or is it easily lifted out of the soil. If it is easily lifted from the soil with no resistance, I would say that something is eating the roots. If the roots are holding, the plant may not have been healthy. Perhaps you could take it back for another.

Penny

Here is a link I found for wilt which can affect columbine Control of Canker, Diebacks and Wilt Diseases

Penny

Here is a link I found for wilt which can affect columbine Control of Canker, Diebacks and Wilt Diseases

Penny

I was wondering if it was wilt. This started about two days after I planted it so I was hoping it was just shock. Ugh, the plant is definitely a gonner and now I'm really afraid to try more.

hb,
Try and get a native columbine. They are much more disease and pest resistant and much hardier over all. I just planted out one that I grew from seed last year. I had no idea where to put it once it finally got big enough to plant so I just put it in a 3 inch pot and honestly forgot about it. It sat in that little pot all winter long and survived weather that killed some of my more established plants. Last week-end while doing some yard clean up I rediscovered the little 3 inch pot and decided to see if it had enough life to plant out. It took half an hour to get the plant out of the pot as the roots had all grown through the pot and down into the ground. It is now transplanted to my front bed where it is getting a little more sunshine and much better soil and seems to be very happy. Leaf miners are also a problem with the hybrids and much less with the natives.

Penny

Thanks, I'm planning on going to the nursery to see if they have some sometime this week. I'll have to ask what is native because I don't remember them having it labeled. That sounds promising. I've seen it all over the place and I'm so nervous now about wasting a plant. Gotta get some sluggo or something.