What's Blooming in the Patch: Columbines

The gentle Columbines, their name derived from the Latin word columba, meaning “dove,” are now “Blooming in the Patch”. In contrast, the genus name of the plant, Aquilegia is derived from the Latin word for eagle [aquila], because the shape of the flower petals are said to resemble an eagle's claw.

It is a plant native to North America as well as Europe so both names are fitting. You find the large yellow variety growing in the wild in the canyons of Verde Canyons in New Mexico and the “Colorado Blue” variety is the state flower. Native Americans would eat the flower as it is reported to be sweet and safe if consumed in small quantities. The seeds and roots however, are highly poisonous and contain carcinogenic toxins so Columbines are not safely classified as an edible flower.

The columbine is a hardy herbaceous perennial, drought-tolerant once established, partially shade tolerant and adaptive to a variety of soil conditions. It is attractive to hummingbirds, easy to maintain, bug free and deer don't eat them. Don't expect the plant to last more than a few years, as it will die out, but if you allow a few blossoms to go to seed at the end of the flowering period, it will be a self-sower. Columbines are attractive compact plants that can grow to be at least three-feet tall with the blooms on tall skinny stems but become smaller during the summer as you trip the stems off and the outer leaves dry up.

You can buy large mature plants at Sickles Market and smaller pots of the double variety at although a lot of those appeared to be past their bloom. An inexpensive way to get a lot of plants is to simply sow the seeds in a safe place and then transplant the babies at the end of summer. You will be rewarded next spring.

Pat Ellson lives in Eatontown is the owner of Floral Gems located at 196 South Street, Eatontown, (732) 542-0967.