When flowers fall victim to snails, it is more than annoying for gardeners. Fortunately, columbine is not on the snail menu. Here you can find out why this is so and what advantages it promises.
Why don't snails eat columbine?
Snails avoid columbine because it contains slightly toxic substances that can become hydrogen cyanide. You can therefore use columbine as a natural snail repellent by planting it in combination with other snail-resistant plants such as garlic, thyme and rosemary.
Is columbine eaten by snails?
Snails usually avoid the location of the columbine anddo not eat from the plant. In this case there is also a valid reason for this behavior. Columbine is slightly poisonous. The plant contains a substance that, together with other substances, can become hydrogen cyanide. Since snails don't want to poison themselves, plants of this type are not on their menu.
Is columbine suitable as a snail repellent?
If enough columbine specimens grow in one location, the columbine can certainly be used assnail protection. In this sense, you can definitely use the columbine as a natural protection against snails and keep away annoying animals such as slugs. Simply show the animals that they are not welcome in your garden through the plants. The following plants with an even more intense herbal smell are often even better for repelling snails and can be combined.
- garlic
- Thyme
- Rosemary
How do I create a slug-resistant bed with columbine?
It is best if you combine different plantsanti-snails. In addition to the columbine, you can also put the following flowering plants in the bed:
- Lily of the valley
- Foxglove
- Sedum
- Peony
- Storksbill
- woman's coat
How long does columbine keep snails away?
The columbine keeps the snails away forseveral years. With the buttercup plant you have an easy-care perennial that grows for three to five years and reproduces well during this time. Some gardeners consider the plant to be a weed because of its propensity to reproduce.
Tip
Anti-snail and insect-friendly
If you plant the columbine in the garden to protect against snails, you don't have to worry that beneficial insects will stay away. Columbine is considered an insect-friendly plant. It is an important source of food, especially for the bumblebee.
