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Aquilegia vulgaris - L.

Common Name Columbine, European columbine, Granny's Bonnet, European Crowfoot
Family Ranunculaceae
USDA hardiness 3-9
Known Hazards The plant is poisonous though the toxins are destroyed by heat or by drying[7, 19]. Although this plant contains alkaloids, no cases of poisoning to humans or other mammals have been recorded[76].
Habitats Moist shady positions, especially on calcareous soils or fenland peat[7, 17, 31].
Range Central and southern Europe, including Britain, south and east to N. Africa and Temperate China.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (1 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Aquilegia vulgaris Columbine, European columbine, Granny


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aquilegia_vulgaris.jpg
Aquilegia vulgaris Columbine, European columbine, Granny
(c) 2010 Ken Fern & Plants For A Future

 

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Summary

Bloom Color: Blue, Pink, Purple, Red, White. Main Bloom Time: Late spring.Form: Upright or erect.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Aquilegia vulgaris is a PERENNIAL growing to 1 m (3ft 3in) by 0.5 m (1ft 8in) at a medium rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 4 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from April to July, and the seeds ripen from July to August. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Shady Edge;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Flowers
Edible Uses: Tea

Flowers - raw. Rich in nectar, they are sweet and delightful[172], they make a very attractive addition to mixed salads and can also be used as a thirst-quenching munch in the garden[K]. The flowers are also used as a tea substitute[177].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Antianxiety  Astringent  Depurative  Diaphoretic  Diuretic  Homeopathy  Parasiticide  Parasiticide


Columbine was formerly employed in herbal medicine mainly for its antiscorbutic effect, but it has fallen out of favour and is little used nowadays[268]. The leaves root and seed are astringent, depurative, diaphoretic, diuretic, parasiticide[4, 7, 9, 19, 21]. Because of its toxic properties, this plant should not be taken internally without expert advice, though the root is sometimes used externally in poultices to treat ulcers and the commoner skin diseases[7, 268]. The plant can be harvested at any time from June to October[7]. Columbine has produced very unsatisfactory results and is not normally used medicinally[4]. A homeopathic remedy is made from the plant[7]. It is used in the treatment of affections of the nervous system[7].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Parasiticide  Parasiticide

The seed is used as a parasiticide to rid the hair of lice[172]. The dried and crushed seed is used to kill external body parasites[53].

Special Uses

Food Forest  Scented Plants

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Landscape Uses:Border, Rock garden, Woodland garden. Succeeds in ordinary garden soil, preferring a moist but not wet soil and a sunny position[1]. Thrives in partial shade[1, 111]. Intolerant of heavy clay[200]. Plants are hardy to at least -25°c[187]. Whilst the blue-flowered forms of this species have no scent, white flowered forms have a soft clove scent in order to attract pollinating insects[245]. Most species are short-lived, dying out after 2 - 3 years, though they usually produce seed prolifically[200]. This species usually self-sows freely in the garden, it is very apt to hybridize with other members of the genus and usually becomes the dominant partner in any hybridization[200]. Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[233]. A greedy plant, inhibiting the growth of nearby plants, especially legumes[54, 201]. It also attracts red spider mites to the garden, these can then move on to other crops such as apples, pears and strawberries[201]. It grows well with rhubarb[201]. Special Features:Attracts birds, Not North American native, Naturalizing, All or parts of this plant are poisonous, Suitable for cut flowers. In garden design, as well as the above-ground architecture of a plant, root structure considerations help in choosing plants that work together for their optimal soil requirements including nutrients and water. The root pattern is fibrous dividing into a large number of fine roots [2-1].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

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Plant Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. The seed can be slow to germinate[200]. Stored seed can be sown in late winter in a cold frame. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a cold frame for their first winter. Plant out in late spring or early summer. Division in spring[200].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

EUROPE: United Kingdom, Ireland, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Russian Federation-European part (European part (west)), Belarus, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Ukraine (west), Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece, Croatia, Italy (incl. Sicily), North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, France (incl. Corsica), Portugal AFRICA: Algeria, Morocco

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Aquilegia brevistylaSmallflower columbinePerennial0.9 0-0  LMSNM211
Aquilegia buergeriana Perennial0.6 6-9  LMHSNM201
Aquilegia canadensisWild Columbine, Red columbine, Meeting Houses, Common ColumbinePerennial0.6 4-10 MLMSNM222
Aquilegia coeruleaRocky Mountain Columbine, Colorado blue columbine, Dailey's columbine, White Colorado columbinePerennial0.6 3-7  LMSNM211
Aquilegia flabellataFan Columbine, Dwarf ColumbinePerennial0.3 3-9 SLMSNM201
Aquilegia flavescensColumbine, Yellow columbinePerennial0.8 4-8  LMSNM211
Aquilegia formosaWestern ColumbinePerennial0.8 3-7  LMSNM221
Aquilegia formosa truncataColumbinePerennial0.9 3-7  LMSNM221
Aquilegia jonesiiColumbine, Jones' columbine, Blue limestone columbinePerennial0.1 3-7  LMSNM211
Aquilegia karelinii Perennial0.8 -  LMSNM201
Aquilegia pubescensColumbine, Sierra columbinePerennial0.5 4-8  LMSNM211
Aquilegia shockleyi Perennial0.8 6-9  LMSNM211
Semiaquilegia adoxoidesTian KuiPerennial0.3 5-9  LMHSNM02 

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

L.

Botanical References

17200

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