Aquilegia eximia is a species of columbine known by the common name Van Houtte's columbine. It is endemic to California, where it grows in the moist forests of the Coast Ranges. This is a perennial herb growing from a thick caudex and varying in height, reaching a maximum height near 5 feet. The lower leaves are divided into large, leaflike segments up to 1.5 to 2 inches long and a lobed oval in shape. Leaves farther up the stem are not segmented but may be deeply lobed. The flower cluster bears a large, nodding columbine flower. Each flower has five bright red to orange-red flat sepals up to 1 inch long, and five petals which are hollow spurs 0.5 to 1.5 inches long, bright orange-red on the outer surface and lighter orange to yellow inside. The mouth of each hollow petal tube is up to a centimeter wide. The sepals and petals are generally reflexed back toward the stem and the five pistils and many thin stamens extend forward from the center of the flower.