The bellflower, Kaiserglocke, fool's cap or just the columbine - many names are common for this poisonous plant. What should be considered when planting?

Mid-May is a good time to plant the undemanding columbine

Which location does a columbine like?

The columbine prefers to grow in a sunny to partially shaded location. But even in the shade or in the blazing midday sun, it shows no problems. The brighter it is, the higher it grows. Suitable locations can be found, for example, in perennial beds, in rock gardens, on roadsides and on the edge of trees. Columbines even thrive in pots.

Do columbines need a high-quality substrate?

These plants are considered extremely undemanding. If you want to plant your columbine in a pot, conventional potting soil is sufficient. In the field, the substrate should ideally have the following properties:

  • humorous
  • permeable e.g. B. through some gravel or sand
  • fresh
  • slightly loamy
  • wet

Before planting, the soil is loosened. It is advisable to remove weeds so that the columbine can grow unhindered. Once established, it reappears every year and crowds out many other plants. Last but not least, it is advisable to enrich the planting hole with mature compost.

What is the ideal planting time?

Around mid-May, it's time to plant the columbine. Before that, there is a risk that frost will affect this plant. Only after the ice saints in May can the columbine grow without any challenges.

How can these plants be multiplied?

Columbines are easy to propagate. You can multiply by self-seeding. But you can also take the sowing into your own hands. Both no-till and growing at home work. Direct sowing takes place from April/May and pre-cultivation from March.

That's how it's done:

  • Mix seeds with sand and scatter
  • Cover with soil 3 to 5 mm thick
  • shade
  • moisten and keep moist
  • ideal germination temperature: 17 to 20 °C
  • Germination time 4 to 6 weeks
  • prick out from a height of 5 cm
  • Plant out early columbines in a suitable location
  • Distance between each plant: 25 to 30 cm

tips and tricks

The columbine looks most beautiful in tuffs in the midst of other perennials such as silver candles, asters, hydrangeas, hostas, cow parsley, ferns, daffodils, monkshood and bleeding hearts.

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Herbs