Family: Ranunculaceae
Author: L.
Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 533 (1753)
Year: 1753
Status: accepted
Rank: species
Genus: Aquilegia
Vegetable: False
Observations: Europe
Description
The European columbine, known scientifically as Aquilegia vulgaris, is a charming and elegant flowering plant commonly found across Europe. It is a member of the Ranunculaceae family, which includes a variety of other ornamental and medicinal plants.
This perennial herbaceous plant is admired for its distinctive blooms, which typically appear in late spring to early summer. The flowers of the European columbine are notable for their unique shape, featuring an array of colors that range from purples and blues to pinks and whites. Each blossom comprises five sepals and five petals with hooked spurs that give the flower its characteristic bonnet-like appearance.
The plant’s foliage is equally attractive, with delicate, fern-like leaves that add a soft, lush texture to any garden setting. These leaves grow in a rosette at the base, providing a graceful backdrop to the prominent flower stalks that rise above them.
Aquilegia vulgaris thrives in a variety of habitats, from shaded woodlands to open meadows, demonstrating remarkable adaptability. It prefers well-drained soil and can grow in full sun to partial shade, making it a versatile addition to garden landscapes. The plant also attracts pollinators such as bees and butterflies, contributing to the biodiversity and health of the ecosystem.
Historically, the European columbine has been appreciated not just for its beauty but also for its symbolic meanings. In various cultures, it has been associated with themes of love, faith, and the Holy Spirit, often featured in art and literature.
First described in 1753, Aquilegia vulgaris has since captured the hearts of botanists and gardeners alike. Whether adorning a garden bed or naturalizing in a woodland corner, the European columbine offers a touch of elegance and a reminder of the enduring allure of nature’s artistry.
Common Names
Dan: akeleje, almindelig akeleje
Eng: capon’s-feather, columbine, european columbine, european crowfoot, granny bonnets, granny’s-bonnet, common columbine, culverwort, garden columbine
Deu: gemeine akelei, gewöhnliche akelei
Nor: aakerlei, akeleje
Fra: aiglantine, ancolie commun, gants de notre dame, ancolie vulgaire, gants de notre-dame
Swe: akleja
Est: harilik kurekell
Lav: parast
Nld: wilde akelei
Sme: akeleija
Cym: blodau colomennod, blodau yr eryr, blodau’r sipsi, bonet nain, cap nos mamgu, clychau llundain, colwmbein, madwysg, madwysg cyffredin, troed y ceiliog, troed y glomen, troed y golomen
En: European columbine, European crowfoot, Capon’s-feather, Granny bonnets, Granny’s-bonnet, Columbine, Culverwort, Common columbine, Garden columbine
Af: Akelei
Ar: أنقولية شائعة
Az: Adi akvilegiya
Eu: Kuku-belar
Be: Ворлікі звычайныя
Br: Beskenn-an-Itron-Varia
Bg: Обикновена кандилка
Ca: Corniol, Aguilera, Aliguenya, Corniol vulgar
Zh: 耧斗菜
Kw: Kough damawynn
Hr: Obični pakujac
Cs: Orlíček obecný
Da: Almindelig Akeleje, Akeleje
Nl: Wilde akelei, Gewone Akelei
Et: Harilik kurekell
Fi: Lehtoakileija
Fr: Aiglantine, Gants de Notre Dame, Ancolie commune, Ancolie commun, Ancolie vulgaire, Gants de Notre-Dame, Bonne-femme, Cinq-doigts, Clochette, Colombine, Galantine, Gonneau, Manteau royal
De: Gemeine Akelei, Gewöhnliche Akelei, Gemeine-Akelei
Hu: Közönséges harangláb
It: Aquilegia comune
Lv: Parastā ozolīte, Parast
Li: Wiljen akkelej
Lt: Paprastasis sinavadas
Mk: Обична кандилка
Se: Akeleija
No: Akeleie, Aakerlei, Akeleje
Pl: Orlik pospolity
Ru: Водосбор обыкновенный
Sr: Kandilica
Sk: Orlíček obyčajný
Es: Aguileña, Aguileña común, Aquileña, Clérigos, Pajarilla, Palometas
Sv: Akleja
Zh-tw: 耧斗菜
Tr: Adi hasekiküpesi
Uk: Орлики звичайні
Cy: Troed y golomen, Blodau Colomennod, Blodau yr Eryr, Blodau’r Sipsi, Bonet Nain, Cap Nos Mamgu, Clychau Llundain, Colwmbein, Madwysg, Madwysg Cyffredin, Troed y Ceiliog, Troed y Glomen
Synonyms
- Aquilegia vulgaris var. typica (Beck)
- Aquilegia vulgaris var. atrata (Gren.)
- Aquilegia vulgaris subsp. collina ((Jord.) Nyman)
- Aquilegia vulgaris mixta (Rchb.)
- Aquilegia vulgaris var. kermesiana (J.Carter ex J.Dix)
- Aquilegia vulgaris corniculata ((Vill.) DC.)
- Aquilegia vulgaris var. grandiflora (DC.)
- Aquilegia vulgaris var. ruscinonensis ((Timb.-Lagr. & Jeanb.) Timb.-Lagr.)
- Aquilegia vulgaris subsp. grandiflora (Gaudin)
- Aquilegia caryophylloides ((T.Moore) Hibberd)
- Aquilegia vulgaris f. collina ((Jord.) Rouy & Foucaud)
- Aquilegia ebneri (Zimmeter)
- Aquilegia corniculata (Vill.)
- Aquilegia vulgaris var. genuina (Rouy & Foucaud)
- Aquilegia vulgaris f. glabella ((Schur) A.Nyár.)
- Aquilegia collina (Jord.)
- Aquilegia subalpina (Boreau)
- Aquilegia inversa (Mill.)
- Aquilegia vulgaris f. ruscinonensis ((Timb.-Lagr. & Jeanb.) Rouy & Foucaud)
- Aquilegia vulgaris var. sylvestris (Schur)
- Aquilegia vulgaris var. caryophylloides (T.Moore)
- Aquilegia glaucescens (Baker)
- Aquilegia vulgaris var. notabilis (Beck)
- Aquilegia vulgaris var. carnica (Rchb. ex Ces., Pass. & Gibelli)
- Aquilegia vulgaris var. platysepala ((Rchb.) Mert.)
- Aquilegia vulgaris subvar. grandiflora (Hayek)
- Aquilegia vulgaris subsp. subalpina ((Boreau) B.Bock)
- Aquilegia vulgaris f. arbascensis ((Timb.-Lagr.) Rouy & Foucaud)
- Aquilegia cyclophylla (Jeanb. & Timb.-Lagr.)
- Aquilegia vulgaris var. albiflora (Schur)
- Aquilegia winterbottomiana (Brühl)
- Aquilegia silvestris (Neck.)
- Aquilegia vulgaris subvar. ebneri ((Zimmeter) Hayek)
- Aquilegia vulgaris subsp. vulgaris (Briq.)
- Aquilegia vulgaris var. pratensis (Kitt.)
- Aquilegia alba (Huftelen)
- Aquilegia vulgaris var. ebneri ((Zimmeter) Beck)
- Aquilegia vulgaris imbricata (Rchb.)
- Aquilegia vulgaris var. cyclophylla ((Jeanb. & Timb.-Lagr.) Gürke)
- Aquilegia vulgaris var. mollis ((Jeanb. ex Timb.-Lagr.) Gürke)
- Aquilegia vulgaris subsp. coerulescens (Rapaics)
- Aquilegia arbascensis (Timb.-Lagr.)
- Aquilegia versicolor (Salisb.)
- Aquilegia vulgaris var. praecox ((Jord.) Gürke)
- Aquilegia vulgaris var. glabra (Heuff.)
- Aquilegia stellata (Steud.)
- Aquilegia vulgaris var. varia (Neilr.)
- Aquilegia vulgaris var. normalis (Hook.f. & Thomson)
- Aquilegia glaucophylla (Steud.)
- Aquilegia vulgaris var. corniculata ((Vill.) Steud.)
- Aquilegia vulgaris var. nemoralis ((Jord.) Gürke)
- Aquilegia vulgaris var. pilosa (Podp.)
- Aquilegia haenkeana subsp. subalpina ((Boreau) Nyman)
- Aquilegia vulgaris subvar. platysepala ((Rchb.) Hayek)
- Aquilegia vulgaris degener (DC.)
- Aquilegia ecalcarata (Steud.)
- Aquilegia vulgaris subsp. praecox ((Jord.) Nyman)
- Aquilegia mollis (Jeanb. ex Timb.-Lagr.)
- Aquilegia vulgaris multifaria (Rchb.)
- Aquilegia atrata subsp. vulgaris ((L.) Dalla Fior)
- Aquilegia vulgaris f. mollis ((Jeanb. ex Timb.-Lagr.) Rouy & Foucaud)
- Aquilegia vulgaris var. multiplicata (Schur)
- Aquilegia vulgaris f. cornuta (Rapaics)
- Aquilegia ruscinonensis (Timb.-Lagr. & Jeanb.)
- Aquilegia cornuta (Gilib.)
- Aquilegia nivea (Baumg.)
- Aquilegia vulgaris f. nivea ((Baumg.) Fiori)
- Aquilegia vulgaris stellata (DC.)
- Aquilegia nemoralis (Jord.)
- Aquilegia vulgaris anemoniflora (Rchb.)
- Aquilegia vulgaris var. nivea ((Baumg. ex Baker) Rchb.)
- Aquilegia platysepala (Rchb.)
- Aquilegia vulgaris subsp. arbascensis ((Timb.-Lagr.) Nyman)
- Aquilegia vulgaris var. minor (Zobel)
- Aquilegia vulgaris var. viscosa (Roth)
- Aquilegia vulgaris f. nemoralis ((Jord.) Rouy & Foucaud)
- Aquilegia vulgaris f. subscapiformis (A.Nyár.)
- Aquilegia sylvestris (Schur)
- Aquilegia vulgaris f. cyclophylla ((Jeanb. & Timb.-Lagr.) Rouy & Foucaud)
- Aquilegia ochroleuca (Baumg. ex Schur)
- Aquilegia vulgaris f. subalpina ((Boreau) Rouy & Foucaud)
- Aquilegia vulgaris f. praecox ((Jord.) Rouy & Foucaud)
- Aquilegia vulgaris var. eynensis (Brühl)
- Aquilegia vulgaris var. elegans (C.Pope ex Steud.)
- Aquilina vulgaris ((L.) Bubani)
- Aquilegia praecox (Jord.)
- Aquilegia vulgaris var. collina ((Jord.) Gürke)
- Aquilegia vulgaris var. haenkeana ((W.D.J.Koch ex Maly) Maly)
- Aquilegia albopleno (Barr & Sugden)
- Aquilegia vulgaris var. glabella (Schur)
- Aquilegia vulgaris f. plena ((Rchb.) A.Nyár.)
- Aquilegia nigricans var. ebneri ((Zimmeter) Beck)
- Aquilegia recticornu (Brühl)
- Aquilegia vulgaris subsp. nemoralis ((Jord.) Nyman)
- Aquilegia speciosa (Timb.-Lagr.)
- Aquilegia vulgaris inversa ((Mill.) DC.)
- Aquilegia vulgaris var. spectabilis (Regel)
- Aquilegia vulgaris var. ochroleuca (Schur)
- Aquilegia plena (Steud.)
- Aquilegia vulgaris var. subtomentosa (Čelak.)
- Aquilegia vulgaris var. adenopoda (Borbás)
- Aquilegia vulgaris f. haenkeana (Fiori)
- Aquilegia haenkeana (W.D.J.Koch ex Maly)
- Aquilegia vulgaris f. platysepala ((Rchb.) Rouy & Foucaud)
- Aquilegia vulgaris var. arbascensis ((Timb.-Lagr.) Gürke)
- Aquilegia eynensis (Brühl)
- Aquilegia bertolonii var. parviflora (Huter, Porta & Rigo)
- Aquilegia vulgaris var. stellata (Schur)
- Aquilegia vulgaris var. subalpina ((Boreau) Zimmeter)
- Aquilegia vulgaris var. speciosa (W.T.Aiton)
Distribution
- Albania (native)
- Austria (native)
- Baltic States (native)
- Belarus (native)
- Belgium (native)
- Bulgaria (native)
- Central European Rus (native)
- Corse (native)
- Czechoslovakia (native)
- France (native)
- Germany (native)
- Great Britain (native)
- Greece (native)
- Hungary (native)
- Ireland (native)
- Italy (native)
- Netherlands (native)
- Northwest European R (native)
- Poland (native)
- Portugal (native)
- Romania (native)
- Sicilia (native)
- Spain (native)
- Switzerland (native)
- Yugoslavia (native)
- Argentina South (introduced)
- Azores (introduced)
- British Columbia (introduced)
- Canary Is. (introduced)
- Chile Central (introduced)
- Chile South (introduced)
- Connecticut (introduced)
- Denmark (introduced)
- East European Russia (introduced)
- Ecuador (introduced)
- Finland (introduced)
- Georgia (introduced)
- Illinois (introduced)
- Indiana (introduced)
- Iowa (introduced)
- Kamchatka (introduced)
- Kentucky (introduced)
- Krym (introduced)
- Labrador (introduced)
- Madeira (introduced)
- Magadan (introduced)
- Maine (introduced)
- Manitoba (introduced)
- Maryland (introduced)
- Masachusettes (introduced)
- Michigan (introduced)
- Minnesota (introduced)
- New Brunswick (introduced)
- New Hampshire (introduced)
- New Jersey (introduced)
- New South Wales (introduced)
- New York (introduced)
- New Zealand North (introduced)
- New Zealand South (introduced)
- Newfoundland (introduced)
- North Carolina (introduced)
- North European Russi (introduced)
- Norway (introduced)
- Nova Scotia (introduced)
- Ohio (introduced)
- Ontario (introduced)
- Pennsylvania (introduced)
- Prince Edward I. (introduced)
- Québec (introduced)
- Rhode I. (introduced)
- South European Russi (introduced)
- Sweden (introduced)
- Tasmania (introduced)
- Ukraine (introduced)
- Uzbekistan (introduced)
- Vermont (introduced)
- Victoria (introduced)
- Washington (introduced)
- West Virginia (introduced)
- Wisconsin (introduced)
Additional Images
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Flower
Taken May 23, 2011 by parramon marta (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 24, 2019 by Dieter Wagner (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 29, 2019 by Manu Pacha (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 14, 2017 by francis serre (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 27, 2017 by Sylvain Kohli (cc-by-sa)
Habit
Taken May 24, 2009 by Miguel A. C. (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 24, 2018 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 24, 2018 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 23, 2005 by bas yves (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 24, 2019 by Dieter Wagner (cc-by-sa)
Leaf
Taken May 6, 2018 by Fejul Xeto (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 6, 2019 by susie (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 6, 2019 by susie (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 27, 2017 by Sylvain Kohli (cc-by-sa)
Taken Nov 6, 2017 by Dieter Wagner (cc-by-sa)
Fruit
Taken Aug 1, 2022 by Uta Groger (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 7, 2022 by Annemarie Ahrens-Stehle (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 24, 2019 by Liek Schoeren (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Frank Vincentz (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 6, 2018 by Fejul Xeto (cc-by-sa)
Other
Taken May 2, 2021 by Araújo Manuela (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 25, 2021 by Carlos Veri (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 18, 2022 by Jim Knopf (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 10, 2022 by Dave Flack (cc-by-sa)
Taken Nov 3, 2016 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)
Bark
Taken May 9, 2020 by Hélène (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 5, 2012 by Tela Botanica − Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 16, 2021 by Hdez Alfonso J. (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 23, 2017 by bas yves (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 6, 2017 by Carlos Villasante (cc-by-sa)
Sources
- WFO (No URL)
- IPNI (No URL)
- POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:306409-2)
- GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/3033191)
- PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Aquilegia vulgaris L.)
Specifications
Growth habit: Forb/herb
Growth
Ph maximum: 7.5
Ph minimum: 7.0
Light: 6
Atmospheric humidity: 5
Soil nutriments: 5
