Aquilegia vulgaris is a species belonging to Ranunculaceae family. It is native to northern Africa (Algeria and Morocco) and Europe (Ireland, UK, West, Central, Southern Europe). Common Columbine is also naturalised in Australia, eastern USA, Canada and outside its native range in Europe.

Genus name comes from the Latin word for eagle (flower’s five spurs which resemble an eagle’s talon). Specific epithet vulgaris comes from the Latin; meaning “common”. Columbine comes from the Latin word columba meaning dove-like.

Aquilegia vulgaris is a herbaceous plant growing to 30-45 cm, sometimes up to 100 cm high, with branched, thinly hairy stems. The leaves are biternate; each leaf has three groups of three leaflets. Basal leaves are glabrous above and glaucous beneath. The flowers, in various shades of purple, blue, pink and white, are pendent or horizontal with hooked spurs, and appear in spring and early summer. Its lightly fragrant flowers, on slender erect stems, contrast nicely with its blue-green foliage.

Common Columbine classified as a perennial plant, return from the same roots year after year. How long that they live will be determined by how ideal the conditions are. This species and various hybrids derived from it are popular garden flowers; available in a variety of, short-spurred or spurless, in a variety of colours ranging from blue to violet to white to pink to red, in single and double forms. Though perennial, cultivars may be short-lived and thus best treated as biennials.

Aquilegia vulgaris is easily grown in damp soil in full sun to part shade. It tolerates a wide range of soils except heavy, poorly drained ones, prefers organically rich, moist soils.  Flowering stems should be removed after bloom to encourage additional bloom. Plants may be easily grown from seed, will self-seed in the garden. Common Columbine is a very hardy plant, can take freeze up to – 35 °C. Plant even has been recorded in treeless vegetation in surveys of the Austrian Alps.

Use in Landscape: Aquilegia vulgaris deserves a prominent spot in the garden. It may be used; borders, rock gardens, cottage gardens, open shade gardens, woodland gardens or naturalized areas. It is also a good selection for a hummingbird garden. Plants should be watered after bloom to enjoy the ground cover effect of the foliage.

In modern herbal medicine Common Columbine is used as an astringent and diuretic. The plant is a member of the poisonous Ranunculus family and all parts of the plant, including the seeds are poisonous if ingested. The dried crushed seeds made into a dusting powder will kill lice very effectively.