Interesting facts about the seeds of the Columbine

Interesting facts about the seeds of the Columbine

What do the seeds look like and when do they ripen?

They are elongated oval and extremely small. Their color is black and their smooth surface has a slight sheen. The seeds of most columbine varieties mature after the flowering period between July and August.

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Sow the seeds

If you already have the Columbine in the garden and want to propagate it, you can collect the seeds yourself. A single plant forms numerous seeds that are located in a capsule. When the capsule dries up, it bursts and reveals the seeds it contains. Harvest the capsules when they are dry and the seeds rustle inside.

Sowing is very easy:

  • Sow seeds directly into the bed in April / May
  • mix the seeds with sand beforehand (then they can be distributed better)
  • cover with earth
  • spray with a fine water shower
  • Germination time: 4 to 6 weeks

Grown at home

If you want to be on the safe side, you can prefer the seeds at home. This should start between February and March. Both pots and seed trays can serve as vessels for sowing. Before sowing, it is recommended to put the seeds in the refrigerator for 2 weeks. The seeds of some Akeleis varieties are cold germs.

That's how it's done:

  • sow in potting soil (e.g. distribute the seeds with tweezers)
  • Cover 5 mm thick with earth and press down
  • moisten with hand sprayer and keep moist
  • place in a bright place
  • optimal germination temperature: 17 to 20 ° C (e.g. in the living room on the windowsill)
  • If necessary, prick out from a size of 5 cm
  • Put outside or plant out from mid-May

Self-sowing - the hobby of these seeds

But these seeds don't have to be sown by you. They also like to sow themselves. But the disadvantage is that if you have different types of Akeleis, they often cross each other. The result after self-sowing are not single-variety specimens.

The Columbine can get quite a nuisance from its urge to self-sow. Over the years, it can literally become a weed that proliferates in the vegetable patch, for example. If you don't want the seeds to sow themselves, you should cut off the withered flowers or the immature seed heads.

The seeds are poisonous!

Not to forget: the seeds of the columbine are highly toxic! They contain magnoflorin and a glycoside, which is converted to hydrogen cyanide in the body. Symptoms of poisoning include diarrhea, vomiting, shortness of breath and irregular heartbeat. Most of the time, these don't last long.

Tips & Tricks

Keep the poisonous seeds safe from children and pets!