While some gardeners have never heard of her, they know the other gardeners like the back of their hand. We're talking about the columbine. But what facts are there to learn about this plant?

The columbine is also called Aglei, Venus chariot, Jovis flower, lady's glove, lady's schühli, Kapuzinerhüttli or Pfaffenkäpple.

The most important things summarized

  • Plant Family: Ranunculaceae
  • Occurrence: Europe, Asia, North Africa
  • Growth: 40 to 80 cm tall, upright, slender
  • Leaves: alternate, threefold, 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 don't see in the Columbine…

More than 70 species of columbine are known. They are all perennial and herbaceous and are mainly found in Europe, North Africa and Asia. There, the columbine prefers to inhabit sparse 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. Even 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 come to light on the outside

Depending on the location, the columbine can grow between 40 and 80 cm high. Their stems grow erect 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 grey-green.

Here are the characteristics of the flowers in brief:

  • individually
  • long-stemmed
  • nodding to overhanging
  • 5 to 8 cm tall
  • fivefold
  • blue, violet, pink or white
  • Corolla fused backwards to form a spur
  • the spur contains the nectar

Multi-seeded follicles develop from the flowers. These are the most toxic 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 needs

  • ideal location: semi-shady
  • ideal substrate: rich in humus, well-drained, nutritious, loose, calcareous
  • fertilize little
  • pour no compulsion
  • Prune after flowering to prevent self-seeding
  • Cut back in fall or spring

tips and tricks

The Columbine is known by other names such as Aglei, Venuswagen, Jovisblume, Frauenhandschuh, Frauenschühli, Kapuzinerhüttli and Pfaffenkäpple.

Category:

Herbs