Cactus Gardening Nursery Landscaping Guide

Columbine Flower - A beautiful flower for your home garden

By Julia Gloss

Columbine flower is a common flower and variations of this flower can be found in many parts of the world, from North America to Europe.

There are more than 65 species of Columbine flowers and they can be found growing in the wild and in home gardens. Their colours vary from white, yellow, blue and all the way to pink. The size of the plant ranges from a few inches, to several feet tall.

The beautiful Columbine flower belongs to the genus Aquilegia, one of the most common and prolific flowering plants in the Northern hemisphere.

The common name, Columbine, derives from Latin and means “dove”. You’ll see why if you view the flower from beneath – it looks very much like a flock of doves circled around a bird bath.

Popular with home gardeners

The columbine flower is popular with home gardeners for their simple and delicate beauty. They are also found as wildflowers in meadow, mountain and woodland settings as well as in home gardens.

The Columbine flower is favored by hummingbirds attracted to the nectar. Hummingbirds help to pollinate the field of Columbine flowers by carrying the pollen smudged on their heads from flower to flower.

Columbine flower blooms in Spring, Early Summer

These plants bloom in late spring and into early summer. They enjoy lightly shaded locations in areas where heat is intense, such as in the South, while at high altitudes and in more temperate areas, the Columbine flower grows in full sun.

All varieties grow taller in direct proportion to the warmth of their climate.

Native Americans used the seeds of the Columbine flower medicinally, preparing an infusion of the seeds to treat headache and fever.

Require a well-drained soil

Essential to growing Columbine is well–drained soil. Heavy clay soils won’t do for this perennial, as waterlogged roots will cause them to die in winter. As long as the soil is well-drained, these plants are not fussy. Average potting soil will do just fine.

When planting, space taller varieties a foot apart and shorter varieties six inches apart.

Propagation is rather prolific

Although individual plants may not last for more than a few years, they propagate from seed in a very prolific manner.

Starting with just two species in your garden, you’ll soon have hybrids galore. The Columbine flower produces lots and lots of seeds.

The only problem with hybrids is that they do not produce plants exactly like the parent. There is a way around this.

A bed of Columbine Flowers

As the new hybrids grow, just pull those you don’t like before they set seed. Keep the ones you do like. Within several generations, you’ll have a bed of your own attractive hybrid Columbine flowers.

In Europe, the common Columbine, Aquilegia vulgaris, is known as “Granny’s Bonnet”, growing 18 to 24 inches tall.

Grow you own Columbine flowers

A bed of Columbine flowers is a delight in the garden. A visit to your nursery will yield a variety of choices, sure to please.

Columbine flowers will grow well in the garden, in the pots and in slightly shaded well drained areas around the house.

A bouquet of columbine flowers are popular as a gift for a special occasion like Mothers’ Day or a Wedding Anniversary.

Hummingbirds and Columbine flowers

I always enjoy the moment when I can see the birds flying towards the Columbine flowers, attracted by the nectar.

I have several trees on my property with hummingbirds and if I want to know where the hummingbirds have gone, I just look towards the Columbine flowers.

The beauty of the Columbine flowers will never cease to amaze me.

About the Author:
Julia Gloss has written a number of articles on flowers and gardening including Cactus Gardening, Flower and Garden, Growing Vegetable Garden, Gardening Gloves, Plant Nursery, Grow Lights.
Keep a lookout for more of her articles on this website.

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