Photos: garden escapes Inchigeelagh, Co.Cork

Columbine / Granny's Bonnet Aquilegia vulgaris Colaimbín Family: Ranunculaceae Flowering time: May-July. Perennial. Native / introduced. Nodding, spurred flowers have 5 petals and 5 petal-like sepals are followed by long sticky-hairy fruit. The native plant has blue flowers with hooked spurs but cultivated forms can be blue, deep purple-blue, pink or white and often have long, straight spurs. Leaves are twice-trifoliate with lobed leaflets. Height 35-80cm Prefers calcareous ground. A rare native in central Ireland but also widespread in Ireland as an introduced garden escape on roadsides, waste ground and walls.

Columbine, Aquilegia vulgaris, Colaimbín