FlowersColumbine
Aquilegia vulgaris
Difficulty: Easy
Common columbine (Aquilegia vulgaris) is a perennial with nodding, spurred flowers. It is grown from seed in spring or autumn, in full sun or partial shade.
How to grow columbine
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Comparing Columbine vs. African Daisy
The comparison
Columbine vs. African Daisy
| Fact | | |
|---|---|---|
| Difficulty | Easy | Moderate |
| Life cycle | Perennial | Not yet verified |
| Germination time | 21–28 days | Not yet verified |
| Germination temperature | 21–24 °C70–75 °F | 18 °C64 °F |
| Sun | Full sun, partial shade | Full sun |
| Water | Moderate | Low |
| Containers | Not yet verified | Yes |
| Frost tolerance | Not yet verified | Half-hardy (light frost) |
| Links |
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- Flowers
- Flowers
African Daisy
Osteospermum ecklonis
Difficulty: ModerateGrows in potsOsteospermum ecklonis, the African daisy, is an evergreen shrub with daisy flowers that have dark blue centres and white-to-indigo petals. It likes full sun and can be sown in spring at 18 °C (64 °F).
How to grow african daisy
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Add a third seed, or swap one for a close relative from the same category.
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- African Daisy vs. African MarigoldAfrican Daisy against another flower
- Columbine vs. AgeratumColumbine against another flower
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How to read a comparison
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Sprouting
Germination time and temperature
How many days the seeds take to sprout, and the temperature range they sprout in.
Sowing
Sowing depth and spacing
How deep to sow each seed and how far apart the plants should grow. “On the surface” means the seed isn't covered.
Timing
Days to maturity and life cycle
How long until the plant is ready, counted from sowing or from transplanting (each value says which). Annuals live one year, biennials two, perennials longer.
Light and water
Sun and water
Full sun means 6 or more hours of direct sun a day, partial shade a few hours. Water needs are rated low, moderate or high.
Space and weather
Containers, frost tolerance and soil pH
Whether it grows in a pot, with the smallest pot when it's known. Frost tolerance runs from tender (no frost) to hardy. Soil pH 7 is neutral.
Pets
Toxicity to cats and dogs
Whether the plant is toxic to cats and dogs.
Quick wins
Fastest to sprout
Days from sowing until the first shoots appear, in good conditions.
Pet friendly
Safe around cats and dogs
Listed as non-toxic to both cats and dogs. Each seed's page has the details.
Not safe for pets: borage, buckwheat, caraway, carnation and 14 more.
Comparing
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Each seed's page explains how to grow it from seed, with facts researched and reviewed by our editors.
