Aquilegia vulgaris aka Columbine

Taxonomy

Aquilegia vulgaris, commonly known as European columbine or common colum, is a flowering herbaceous perennial plant native to Europe. It grows up to 1.2 m tall, with branched, thinly hairy stems. The leaves are biternate, with three groups of three leaflets. This species produces beautiful flowers in shades of purple, blue, pink, and white, which are pendent or horizontal with strongly hooked spurs. The plant blooms in early summer. Aquilegia vulgaris is also referred to as granny's nightcap and granny's bonnet. These short-lived, compact perennials have pale blue-green divided leaves and reach a height of 40cm. Their upward-facing, spurless flowers are double and pompom-like, with narrow, light rose pink petals. They bloom in late spring and early summer. Although native to Europe, Aquilegia vulgaris has escaped gardens and naturalized in certain parts of North America. It is a bushy, clump-forming perennial with thin, branching, leafy stems that form a mound. The spring bloom of this species showcases blue to violet flowers with spreading sepals and short-hooked spurs. The basal leaves are biternate, medium green, and glabrous above, while the upper leaves are divided into lobed leaflets, usually three-lobed at the tips. There are various cultivars available, offering single or double flowers, spurless or short-spurred, and a range of colors from blue to violet, white, pink, and even red.

Common names

Columbine, Granny's Bonnet, Culverwort

How to care for Columbine

Difficulty

Even if you don't have a green thumb, you can successfully care for Columbine due to its easy-going nature.

Water

Columbine should be watered regularly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings.

Soil

Columbine loves a well-draining soil. Perlite and vermiculite help with drainage, while coco coir adds organic matter, so a good potting soil mix will have all three. You can improve store-bought soil by adding some perlite to it.

Lighting

To ensure optimal growth, the Columbine prefers bright diffused light for 6-8 hours each day. Insufficient light can result in slow growth and leaf drop, so it's important to find a well-lit location for this plant. Place it near a window, within a distance of 1 meter (3 feet), to enhance its potential for thriving.

Dormancy

During the wintertime, it's common for Columbine to go dormant and their growth may slow down, so waterings should be spaced out more.

Toxicity

Ploi's records do not contain confirmed information on the toxicity of this particular plant. In the event of accidental ingestion of plant material with questionable toxicity by you, a family member, or a pet, it is always a good idea to consult a healthcare professional.

Fertilizer

The Columbine should be repotted either when it doubles in size or annually, whichever comes first. Providing new potting soil with all the vital nutrients annually is enough to support the growth of the plant, and thus, there is no need for fertilizer. Remember that plants derive their energy from the sun, not fertilizer.

Region of origin

Columbine’s native range is Central and southern Europe, including Britain, south and east to N. Africa and Temperate China.


More info:
Wikipedia