In the Middle Ages it was one of the most important medicinal plants, today it is popular as a decorative garden flower: the Columbine. You should bear this in mind when it comes to location, sowing and care.

The most important things at a glance

---

• Location: Full sun to semi-shade
• Sowing: possible until June
• Flowering period: from May to July
• Bee-friendly columbine varieties
• Fertilize: compost or leaf mulch
• diseases and pests
• Use: Perennials as a bed partner
• Is columbine poisonous?
• Plant profile

As a wild form, it likes to grow on mountain meadows, in deciduous forests and on the edges of forests. In the garden, the bee-friendly columbine (Aquilegia), with its delicately shaped flowers, is one of the first taller perennials to show its glory in the garden year.

Due to its unusual flower shape, the columbine is also known as a fool’s cap, gypsy bell, elf glove, dove flower or Venus chariot. The latter name goes back to the fact that it was used as an aphrodisiac in the Middle Ages. So it had a love-promoting effect. In addition, medicinal properties were attributed to columbine and it was used as a medicinal herb for various internal diseases.

Location: Full sun to semi-shade

The columbine makes no special demands on location and care. Rather, she lives ascetically and spreads out where she pleases. This can be in the semi-shade, for example.

• Flowers and vegetables: plants for a shady spot

In the protection of taller perennials , the columbine also grows in full sun. If it cannot find another place, it also settles in lean joints and cracks in the wall.

Sowing: possible until June

After flowering, the columbine develops its seeds in so-called follicles. If you want to sow the perennial next year, you can collect the seeds, store them airtight and use them in the spring.

The first sowing of Columbine is possible from April to June. From February to March you can already prefer the plants on a sunny and warm window sill and put them outside from April. But you have to wait until next year for flowering. The reason: the columbine is a perennial plant – and therefore only flowers for the first time in the second year.

Info
Since the columbine reproduces by self-sowing, it is sufficient to sow the plant only once.

The flowering period of the columbine is from May to July. The flower colors range from white, pink, purple, blue, yellow and orange to a dark burgundy. Like many other plant species, the double flowers are also popular. However, the simple flowers should not be forgotten in terms of their ecological benefits for bees and butterflies.

Second flowering by pruning

Self-sowing also results in new crossings with new colors in new places in the garden. If crossings are not desired, you should cut off withered inflorescences. This is particularly advisable if you are cultivating special colors and selected varieties in the garden that you want to keep. It is also advisable to cut off withered flowers if the columbine should not sow too much.

Our tip
If you cut off the withered inflorescences of the columbine immediately after flowering in May to July, you can look forward to a second carpet of flowers in early autumn.

Bee-friendly columbine varieties

In addition to the wild forms, there are various cultivated forms of columbine that are often planted in gardens.

The variety, also known as Gold Columbine, grows to a height of about 60 centimeters and loves a sunny to partially shaded location. The pale yellow, long-spurred, simple flowers reach a size of 7 to 10 centimeters and float above the bed on long stalks. They bloom from May to June.

Columbine ‘William Guiness’ (Aquilegia vulgaris)

It is also known as common columbine – no wonder, since it descends from the native wild columbine (Aquilegia vulgaris). This variety also has simple, bee-friendly flowers, which also appear noble due to their two-tone color: They are black-purple and have a white center. The purple columbine, another name, reaches a height of 60 centimeters and flowers from May to July, depending on location and weather.

Columbine ‘Ministar’ (Aquilegia flabellata)

The low-growing variety ‘Ministar’ (Aquilegia flabellata) also has two-tone, blue-white flowers that appear from May to June. The perennial forms a dense cushion and, with a height of only about 20 centimetres, is also suitable for smaller gardens and terraces. It is frost hardy down to minus 15 degrees. If it is on a terrace or balcony, the flowering phase does not last as long as when planted out in a bed.

Garden Columbine (Aquilegia caerulea)

The garden columbine, which originates from North America, is also known as the long-spurred columbine. Like all other species and varieties, it belongs to the buttercup family. It shows its blue and white flowers between May and June. Compared to other columbine varieties, the garden columbine grows very high: it can reach up to 80 centimeters. For the cold season, the hardy perennial needs no special protection.

Fertilize: compost or leaf mulch

Despite a good adaptability, hobby gardeners should ideally always ensure a good supply of nutrients, for example with compost or leaf mulch. This will keep their roots sufficiently moist. However, waterlogging should be avoided. Otherwise, the columbine does not need any special fertilizer.

diseases and pests

Columbine has little to fight with diseases and pests. However, it can be attacked by powdery mildew. This is a sign of water stress. The reason: In this case, the plant was too dry or too hot. If the columbine is infested with caterpillars, the affected parts of the plant should be cut off immediately.

Good companions for the columbine in the border are roses , but also shrubs and summer and autumn perennials, for example

• asters
• hydrangeas
• sedum
• bluebell
• Ornamental grasses such as pampas grass, fountain grass, Chinese reed

The special feature: while all other perennials are still growing, the columbine with its nodding flower heads is already an eye-catcher in beds and borders.

Our tip
Columbines should not be planted all over the place, but selectively. In combination with other garden flowers, this results in a harmonious planting. Another advantage: After flowering from May to July, there are no large empty spaces in the bed.

Is columbine poisonous?

Care should be taken when handling columbine because, like many plants in the buttercup family, it is mildly poisonous. All parts of the plant contain toxins, but especially the seed, which ripens between July and August. Symptoms such as skin irritation, redness and blisters can also occur in skin contact. It is therefore advisable to wear gardening gloves when cutting the columbine.

Plant profile

Source:uslifestyler

The post Sowing columbines: when is the best time? appeared first on Current news from , sports, entertainment, economy & finance .