Beautiful native plant: wild columbine
Columbines have been planted in European gardens for centuries. Columbines are among the most familiar garden plants, and through breeding, ornamental forms have been bred from wild species into almost unrecognizable varieties. The locations where the wild columbine naturally occurs are now so rare that it is one of the most endangered plants in the Dutch flora.
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These modern, often multi-colored hybrids with double flowers lack the charming simplicity and beauty of the wild columbine ( Aquilegia vulgaris ). This is a perennial plant in the buttercup family ( Ranunculaceae ) and the only native columbine species in the Netherlands.
The current Dutch name akelei derives from the Old Dutch ackeleia and acolie, which goes back to the Latin aquilegia. Similar names appear in various languages, such as the French ancolie, the Danish akeleje, and the Swedish akleja.
Columbine prefers a sunny to lightly shaded spot, and the soil should ideally be moderately dry and humus-rich. In open spaces, the plant can easily propagate by seed .
Aquilegia vulgaris grows to a height of about 40 to 70 cm and blooms from May to July. The exceptionally beautiful dark blue and violet flowers are found only at the top of the stems. They arch over the curved stem, but they straighten up after flowering. The flowers also make excellent cut flowers in (wild) bouquets. The leaves have a striking shape, are short-haired, just like the stems, and are evergreen until the first frost.
The funnel-shaped entrances are so wide that a bumblebee's head can easily fit through. The striking flowers guarantee visits and pollination by various bumblebee species – especially those whose tongues are long enough to reach the nectar. Queens of the garden bumblebee ( Bombus hortorum ) have tongues of almost 18-20 mm, while workers have tongues over 14 mm. The tongues of field bumblebee workers ( Bombus pascuorum ) average almost 9 mm.
Short-tongued bumblebees also visit flowers, but they bite a hole in the flower to reach the nectar below. When they visit, they bypass the stamens, and pollination doesn't occur. Other bees also use those holes in my flowers.
Caution! Wild columbine crosses very easily with cultivated columbine species. If you want to preserve the true wild form, be careful when sowing or planting cultivars. The plant combines well with other native wild plants such as wood anemone , spotted arum, sweet woodruff , red campion, yellow dead-nettle, and gaunt bellflower .
Tip!
The NL Bloeit! Foundation cultivates exceptionally attractive native plants, species that are loved by wild bees, butterflies, and many other insects. Few of these plants remain in the wild in the Netherlands, and you can help by planting native plants in your garden. In just a few square meters, you can create a beautiful, profusion of wild plants.
