Anytime News
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COLUMBINES
Dr. Leonard Perry, Extension Professor
University of Vermont
This genus of perennials is one of the most popular and showy for spring and early summer blooms, with a wide selection of colors. In an article for perennial growers, the seedsman Georg Uebelhart lists some of these cultivars (cultivated varieties) and gives some useful tips for the best growth.
There are columbines for many types of garden habitats, from rock gardens, to tall meadows, to light shade or woodlands. Columbines can grow well in full sun in the north, as long as their roots stay cool and moist. Part shade is needed in hot climates. Most soils are suitable for columbines, as long as they are well-drained and not heavy clay. Soils should not be too acid, just slightly acid or alkaline (pH 6 to 8).
Unlike most perennials that are best propagated by means such as division, cuttings, or tissue culture, columbines are best grown from seeds. They may gently self-sow in the garden, creating a cottage-garden effect.
If you don't buy plants, but start them yourself from seeds, keep in mind the plants likely wont bloom the first year. They require some cold (termed "vernalization") over winter in order to bloom the following spring. Seeds of most columbine species do not require cold in order to germinate, but hot soil temperatures should be avoided. Best germination is with temperatures that vary between warm days and cool nights, as in early spring.
Most may not realize that columbines are often short-lived, lasting only two to four years. This will vary with species and growing conditions. Since most of the plant energy goes into making seeds after flowering, cutting off old flowers after bloom may help prolong the plant life. There are few serious problems that attack columbines. Leaves may be damaged from powdery mildew disease, aphids, leaf miners, and sunburn from too much sun, but these seldom cause permanent damage to plants.
The latin name for columbine (Aquilegia) comes from the word "aquila" for "eagle", which refers to the shape of the flowers. The five flower petals have a broad tube in front, and long spurs in back that resemble the claws of an eagle. There also are five flower parts resembling petals, called sepals, that may be the same or different colors from the petals. Flowers may be upright or nodding.
The leaves are often bluish-green, found in groups of three (called ternate), and have long stems (called petioles) that connect them with the main upright plant stems. Plants are upright and if tall may need some staking, especially in windy areas. Depending on selection, plants may reach from one to three feet in height.
If several selections of columbines are grown together, they may cross with each other to create new colors. Of the almost 70 different species of columbines native to various parts of the Northern Hemisphere, there are several that are most found in our gardens, and that have given rise to most of our cultivars. Columbines have been bred for over 400 years, yet most of our current cultivars have been bred and selected more recently.
Perhaps the most beautiful and popular of the columbine species is the Colorado state flower (caerulea). This was taken to Germany and England in the mid 1800's where it was used widely in breeding with several other species (chrysantha, formosa, canadensis). These crosses have given us many of our common cultivars. Some are single colors such as 'Kristall' or 'Crystal' (white), 'Blue Star' (blue), 'Rose Queen' (pink and white), or 'Crimson Star' (red). There are mixes of colors such as the McKana hybrids, Musik series, and the newer Songbird series (with names such as 'Blue Bird' and 'Cardinal').
Many of our selections come from the Granny's bonnet (vulgaris) originally from Europe. These include the popular Beidermeier series, and the dwarf forms of this in the Winky series. Mostly seen are mixtures of colors in these series. The Barlow and Clementine series are mainly single colors. Also from this species is the striking black-purple and white 'William Guiness'.
There are shorter selections from another species from Japan (flabellata), including the Spring Magic and Cameo series. Both of these have mixtures as well as single colors. Other common columbine species you may find include the Canadian columbine (canadensis) and golden columbine (chrysantha).