Aquilegia flabellata
| Aquilegia flabellata | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 6 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 1' |
| Width: | 1' |
| Blooms: | Mid Spring-Mid Summer |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Aquilegia flabellata (common name: fan 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 sunny position[2]. Intolerant of heavy clay[1].
Hardy to about -20°c[3].
The name of this species is based on the cultivated form, the true wild form is A. flabellata pumila. Kudo. There are some named varieties selected for their ornamental value[1].
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: E. Asia - Japan, Korea.
Habitat: Scrub in the alpine regions of C. and N. Japan.
Edibility: Leaves - cooked. They must be thoroughly boiled[6]. Caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity.
Flowers - raw. Sweet and delightful[7], they make a very attractive addition to mixed salads and can also be used as a thirst-quenching munch in the garden[K].
The flowers are also used as a tea substitute.
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.
Seed Ripens: Mid Summer-Late Summer
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 1.5 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Schofield, Janice. Discovering Wild Plants.