The bonnet-shaped, violet-blue flowers of Columbine can be spotted in damp areas in woodlands and in fens. It is also an attractive and much-loved garden plant.
Columbine is a tall plant of woodland rides, fens and damp places, and is also a favourite cottage-garden plant - various forms often escape into the countryside. Its nodding, bonnet-shaped, blue flowers appear in May and June and will self-seed in a garden to provide a colourful and wild border, great for nectar-loving bees.
How to identify
A tall, branching plant, Columbine can be recognised by its characteristic violet or blue (rarely white), chandelier-like flowers. Garden escapees come in many other colours and forms.
Distribution
Widespread, but never common.
Did you know?
Columbine is also sometimes called 'Granny's Nightcap' or 'Granny's Bonnet' because of its flowers' resemblance to little purple bonnets.
