Question
I planted seeds from BLUE columbine in my garden, but the plants that grew produced MAUVE color blooms.  Do the blossom colors depend on soil acidity the same way Hydrangea do?  Or are the blue blossoms from hybrid plants?

Answer
Hi Jean,
Blue Columbine (Aquilegia caerulea) should be blue when it blooms.  Acidity or lack of acidity in the soil will not have anything to do with the color.  In fact, this type of columbine is native to the rocky, alkaline soils of Colorado.  You may have gotten some cross pollinated seed.  Columbines are notoriously promiscuous in the plant world and cross pollinate rampantly with each other.  If there were other types of columbines around where yours came from, I can guarantee you that they cross-pollinated.  If you bought these seeds from a seedsman or nursery, I'd take pictures and go back and ask for my money back.  I hope this helps.
Tom