Aquilegia vulgaris f. alba 

'White Granny's Bonnet'

[Ex. Strážovské vrchy, Slovakia]

Ranunculaceae: a long-lived perennial rhizomatic herbaceous plant 20-80cm. Found on the limestone soils, in the pastures and on the edges of the deciduous woods on humus rich soils. This form has nodding, white flowers with hook-tipped spurs. Blooming from May-July. The leaves are grey-green and comprising 3-lobbed leaflets. Native to Central and southern Europe, including Britain, south and east to North Africa and Temperate China.

USES:

The flowers can be eaten raw, they are rich in nectar, sweet and tasty, and they make an attractive addition to mixed salads and can also be used as a thirst-quenching munch in the garden. The flowers are also used as a tea substitute.

Columbine was formerly employed in herbal medicine mainly for its antiscorbutic effect, but it has fallen out of favour and is little used nowadays. The leaves root and seed have astringent, depurative, diaphoretic, diuretic, parasiticide properties. Because of its toxic properties, this plant should not be taken internally without expert advice, though the root is sometimes used externally in poultices to treat ulcers and the commoner skin diseases. The plant can be harvested at any time from June to October. Columbine has produced very unsatisfactory results and is not normally used medicinally. A homeopathic remedy is made from the plant. It is used in the treatment of affections of the nervous system.

GROWING INFORMATION:

Seed can be sown in late winter or spring in a cold frame or greenhouse, the seed can be slow to germinate, but I have found a soak in a GA3 solution can aid germination. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a cold frame for their first winter.

AVAILABLE IN 9CM POT