Aquilegia caerulea
| Aquilegia caerulea | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 3 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 2' |
| Blooms: | Mid Spring-Mid Summer |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Aquilegia caerulea (common name: rocky mountain columbine)
Propagation: Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. The seed can be slow to germinate[1]. Stored seed can be sown in late winter in a cold frame. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a cold frame for their first winter. Plant out in late spring or early summer.
Division in spring[1].
Cultivation: Succeeds in ordinary garden soil, preferring a moist but not wet soil and a sheltered sunny position[2]. It also succeeds in partial shade[3]. Intolerant of heavy clay soils[1].
A very ornamental plant, it is the state flower of Colorado[3].
Most species are short-lived, dying out after 2 - 3 years, though they usually produce seed prolifically[1]. However, they are very apt to hybridize with other members of the genus and so it becomes difficult to keep a species true to type if more than one is grown in the garden[1].
Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[4].
A greedy plant, inhibiting the growth of nearby plants, especially legumes[5].
Range: Western N. America - Montana to Arizona and New Mexico.
Habitat: A wide range of habitats, especially in aspen groves[3], in the upper levels of the Rockies[6].
Edibility: Flowers - raw. Rich in nectar, they have a sweet taste[7], they make a very attractive addition to mixed salads and can also be used as a thirst-quenching munch in the garden[K].
Medicinal: Antispasmodic, diaphoretic, parasiticide, resolvent, salve[7].
The seed was chewed, or an infusion of the root was used, to treat abdominal pains and general sickness[8].
Usage: The seed is used as a parasiticide to rid the hair of lice[7].
Pollinators: Bees
Soil: Can grow in light and medium soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Known Hazards: Although no records of toxicity have been seen for this species, it belongs to a family that contains a number of mildly toxic species. It is therefore wise to exercise some caution. The flowers are probably perfectly safe to eat.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Perennials - The Definitve Reference. Pan Books, 1991.
- ↑ Thomas, Graham. Perennial Garden Plants. J. M. Dent & Sons, 1990.
- ↑ Hatfield, Audrey. How to Enjoy your Weeds. Frederick Muller Ltd, 1974.
- ↑ Hitchcock, Leo. Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press, 1955.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Schofield, Janice. Discovering Wild Plants.
- ↑ Moerman, Daniel. Native American Ethnobotany. Timber Press, 1998.