The buttercup plant Columbine (Aquilegia) belongs in every cottage garden. The flower bells with the characteristic short or long spurs come in many different colors. Read where and how best to plant columbines so that they bloom long and profusely.
How and where is the best way to plant columbine?
Aquilegia should be planted in moist, humus-rich soil in a light, partially shaded location. You can preferably grow young plants on the windowsill from February and plant them in the bed or in pots from mid-May - maintaining a planting distance of 30 centimeters.
Where should you plant the Columbine?
If possible, plant the columbine in moist, humus-rich soil. This is where the graceful flowers thrive best. But be careful: They don't like waterlogging at all, which is why drainage is essential in heavy soils and in pots.
Columbines also love partial shade, but also bloom in the sun. The flowers can be cultivated in the garden, but also grow easily in pots and look beautiful on naturally designed balconies.
Which planting time is ideal for columbine?
From February you can grow young plants yourself on the windowsill. From mid-May, if they are already big and strong enough, they can finally go into the bed or outside. However, make sure that you slowly get the young plants used to their new location before planting them out.
Once cultivated in the bed, the flowers easily self-seed. This is also the best way to propagate columbines, as the perennial cannot be divided.
How should you best plant the columbine?
Plant the early columbines in the bed as follows:
- Maintain a planting distance of 30 centimeters
- put some ripe compost in the planting hole
- Press the soil well
- pour heavily
Alternatively, you can also sow columbines directly into prepared beds or pots from April. For the latter, use a high-quality compost-based substrate that you mix with expanded clay (€19.00 on Amazon). The obligatory drainage layer on the bottom of the pot should also not be missing.
How do you properly care for the columbine after planting?
If planted in good time, the columbine blooms between May and June. A second bloom in late summer or early fall can be encouraged by not allowing spent stems to ripen. Instead, cut them off in early summer and then fertilize the flowers.
You should also ensure there is sufficient water supply, even in shady locations, for example under taller trees. Since columbines have difficulty coping with root pressure, watering is necessary on dry days.
Which plants can you combine the Columbine with?
The blue-flowering natural form Aquilegia vulgaris is well suited for planting wild perennials with ferns. Combined plantings with cranesbills and elf flowers, for example, look beautiful. Another attractive combination (and a tried and tested one in cottage gardens!) is the association of Columbine and Bleeding Heart. Columbine tuffs also create beautiful contrasts in the middle of
- Roses
- Bluebells
- Purple Bells
- Caucasus forget-me-nots
Always make sure not to plant columbines over large areas: after flowering, the plants don't look very attractive, which is why they should be concealed by other perennials.
Tip
Is columbine perennial?
Columbines are actually hardy, perennial perennials that do not grow older than a maximum of four to five years. You should therefore ensure offspring in good time or allow some stems to mature after flowering. Columbine sows itself reliably.