Ask a child to draw a flower and they'll almost certainly create an image of a circular center ringed by petals. Such "daisy-like" flowers are in plentiful supply at garden centers, and homeowners will have plenty of choices when it comes to their height and color.

But gardeners often prefer to mix in some unusual blooms as well. Columbines fit the bill nicely, producing colorful flowers with beautiful lacey foliage.

The flowers are short-lived herbaceous perennials in the buttercup family. The Old Farmer's Almanac says there are more than 70 species with a wide variety of colors, including columbines that produce more than one hue.

Columbines typically grow about two feet high and have a similar spread. David Beaulieu, writing for the home design site The Spruce, says most varieties feature additional visual interest by producing long spurs extending from the back of the flower.

The plant can be added to the garden in the spring, early summer, or autumn. Starting the seeds indoors six to eight weeks before the last frost allows you to get a head start on the growing season. The gardening company Burpee says that when sowing directly in the garden, it helps to chill columbine seeds at about 40 degrees for a few weeks before planting.

Pick a site with full sunlight or partial shade. The seed company American Meadows says too much sunlight can burn the foliage and cause columbines to go dormant. However, ample sunlight is helpful in cooler climates since it will encourage better blooms.

Sandy, loamy, well-draining soil is ideal. Columbines won't do well in heavy clay. The National Gardening Association says it helps to amend the soil with a layer of compost to provide nutrients.

If starting from seed, the Old Farmer's Almanac recommends thinning seedlings so only the strongest plants remain. When transplanting columbines, dig a hole about twice the diameter of the container from which you are moving the plant; the depth should allow the columbine to be planted so the top of the root ball is at the surface level.

Allow about a foot or two between each plant. American Meadows says dwarf varieties will need slightly less space.

If you are planting in the autumn, don't expect flowers to appear before the first frost. Blossoms will make their debut in the following spring.

Water the plant thoroughly after transplanting, and make sure it receives plenty of moisture in its first year. Columbines will be more tolerant of drought once they are established, as the plant will develop a deep taproot. Burpee says the plants should receive at least one inch of water each week.

Columbines may need to be protected from excessive sunlight or high winds once they are established. Staking can help support taller varieties.

The plant is susceptible to several pests and diseases, most notably leaf miners. However, the damage caused by these insects can be treated fairly easily by removing affected leaves. Aphids, stalk borers, and thrips can also present problems. Poor air circulation can lead to diseases like powdery mildew and botrytis.

Columbines will self-sow by dropping seeds. However, you can remove faded blossoms to keep the plant from reproducing. Beaulieu says this process can help prolong the life of existing plants, since seed production will weaken columbines and cause the plants to die out after a few years.

The flowers work well in a variety of environments. These include rock gardens, woodland gardens, cottage gardens, and edging. Columbines can also be grown in containers.

At the end of the growing season, plants should be cut down to the ground. American Meadows says columbines can be divided, but that this process must be done carefully and preserve much of the soil around the roots.