Loved by some, feared by others and still other plant lovers don't know them at all. The columbine now grows in many gardens. But if you want to plant them, you should pay attention to the location!
Which location is optimal for columbines?
The ideal location for columbines is sunny to partially shaded, with loose, moist, humus-rich, nutrient-rich and permeable soil. They thrive best in moving shade under tall perennials and can multiply through self-sowing.
Location requirements: Sunny to shady
These plants prefer a sunny location. But they also thrive in partial shade. They can even be found in the shade. Columbines are therefore valuable flowers for the garden. They grow where other flowering plants struggle.
The sunnier the location, the higher columbines grow and the fresher the soil should be. Experts say that these plants grow best in moving shade under tall perennials.
An optimal location, rich sowing
Columbines seed abundantly in ideal locations. They like to reproduce by self-sowing. But be careful: If different varieties are planted together, offspring of the same variety will often not be produced. It is therefore advisable to plant the columbine varieties in isolation from each other.
Substrate requirements: Loose and moist
The soil should be examined before sowing the columbines. While the Alpine Columbine tolerates calcareous soil, other Columbines tolerate such conditions poorly.
Before planting, the soil is loosened and enriched with compost. Columbines for the pot should be given nutrient-rich potting soil (€16.00 on Amazon). Columbines for outdoor use enjoy the following soil characteristics:
- fresh
- humos
- easy
- permeable
- moist
- nutrient-rich
- sandy-loamy
Tips & Tricks
If you want to create a natural-looking location, plant the columbines together with hellebore and liverwort. These plants continue to be effective alongside daffodils and larger perennials such as silver candles, hostas and hydrangeas.
