Columbine
Aquilegia vulgaris

Family: Ranunculaceae

What it is like

A herb. It is tall and branched and grows for a few years. It grows 70 cm tall and 30 cm wide. The flowers are blue.

Where it is found

It is a temperate or Mediterranean plant. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 1,000 m above sea level. It suits damp meadows.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Albania, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Balkans, Belarus, Britain, Canary Is., Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Europe (country/location of origin), Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Africa, North America, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Sicily, Slovenia, South America, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tasmania, Ukraine, USA, Uzbekistan, Yugoslavia

How it is used for food

The flowers are sucked for their nectar. The flowers are also used in salads. The young leaves are used for flavour in salads and also lightly steamed.

The nectar is sucked especially by children. It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Flowers - nectar, leaves, flowers

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seeds. They need a cold treatment over winter.

Its other names

Local names

Kufufraka, Navadna orlica, Vodosbor

Synonyms

Aquilegia atrata subsp. vulgaris (L.) Dall Fior; and several others