While some gardeners have never heard of her, they know the other gardeners like the back of their hand. We're talking about columbine. But what facts can be found out about this plant?
What does the profile of the Columbine look like?
The Columbine profile includes: Plant family: buttercup family, occurrence: Europe, Asia, North Africa, growth: 40-80 cm, upright, leaves: tripartite, green, flowers: overhanging, solitary, flowering time: May-July, Fruits: follicles, location: sun to shade, soil: calcareous, nutrient-rich, permeable, propagation: self-seeding, sowing, division, care: minimal requirements, special features: poisonous.
The most important things summarized
- Plant family: Buttercup family
- Occurrence: Europe, Asia, North Africa
- Growth: 40 to 80 cm high, upright, slim
- Leaves: alternate, tripartite, green
- Flowers: overhanging, solitary
- Flowering period: May to July
- Fruits: follicles
- Location: Sun to shade
- Soil: calcareous, nutrient-rich, permeable
- Propagation: self-sowing, sowing, division
- Care: no special care required
- Special features: poisonous
Facts that you can't tell from the columbine
More than 70 species of columbine are known. They are all perennial and herbaceous and occur predominantly in Europe, North Africa and Asia. There the Columbine prefers to inhabit open deciduous forests, bushes, forest edges and meadows on calcareous soils.
In the Middle Ages, columbine was considered a remedy for liver diseases, for example. Today it is classified as poisonous. Just 20 g of its fresh leaves can lead to symptoms of poisoning such as shortness of breath, diarrhea and heart problems after consumption.
Facts that appear externally
Depending on the location, the columbine can grow between 40 and 80 cm high. Their stems grow upright in groups. The lower leaves are long-stalked while the upper leaves are sessile. All leaves are threefold, pinnate and toothed. The upper side of the leaf is blue-green and the hairy underside is gray-green.
Here in short format the characteristics of the flowers:
- single
- long-stemmed
- nodding to overhanging
- 5 to 8 cm tall
- fivefold
- blue, violet, pink or white
- Flower crown fused backwards into a spur
- nectar is contained in the spur
Multi-seeded follicles develop from the flowers. These are the most poisonous because of the seeds they contain. The shiny black seeds contain, among other things, magnoflorin and a hydrocyanic acid-forming glycoside. The fruits ripen between July and August.
Planting the Columbine – Location and Care Requirements
- ideal location: partially shaded
- ideal substrate: humus-rich, permeable, nutrient-rich, loose, calcareous
- fertilize little
- pouring no pressure
- prune after flowering to prevent self-seeding
- Pruning in autumn or spring
Tips & Tricks
The Columbine is known by other names such as Aglei, Venuswagen, Jovisblume, Frauenglove, Frauenschühli, Kapuzinerhüttli and Pfaffenkäpple.
