Columbine flowers

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.

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.

There are some 65 species of this delightful flower, ranging in size from just three inches to almost three feet tall. 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.

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. Colors of the Columbine flower virtually span the rainbow, including white, yellow, blue and pink.

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. 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. Like all Columbines, cross breeding over many centuries with so many species has blurred the original species to the point where identifying the original is almost impossible.

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