Aquilegia McKana Hybrid (Columbine)

Award-winning Aquilegia McKana is a tall Columbine hybrid, which features large, brightly colored, long-spurred, nodding, bi-colored flowers in shades of blue/white, red/yellow, and various other color combinations involving pinks and purples

Award-winning Aquilegia McKana is a tall Columbine hybrid, which features large, brightly colored, long-spurred, nodding, bi-colored flowers in shades of blue/white, red/yellow, and various other color combinations involving pinks and purples. They rise elegantly above lovely fern-like foliage, which remains handsome throughout summer, provided the soil is kept moist. Blooming in late spring to early summer, this perennial is ideal to brighten the shade garden!

  • Grows in a bushy, upright clump, up to 30 in. tall (75 cm) and 12-18 in. wide (30-45 cm). This perennial is generally short-lived but will self-seed prolifically to form large colonies in satisfactory growing conditions.
  • Performs best in full sun to part shade, in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils. Seriously dislikes poorly drained soils! Rich, moist soils in part shade are preferred. Do not let the soil dry out.
  • Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies, but is ignored by rabbits and deer!
  • All American Selections Award winner(1955) for its outstanding qualities
  • Easy to grow, this plant is a welcomed addition to beds, borders, cottage gardens, shade gardens or naturalized areas.
  • Susceptible to leaf miner.
  • May be grown from seed sown directly in the garden in spring (after the danger of frost has passed).
  • Remove faded flowering stems to promote additional bloom. Cut to the ground when the foliage declines (around midsummer).
  • Contact with sap may irritate the skin

Requirements

Hardiness 3
– 9

Heat Zones 1
– 7

Climate Zones 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, A2, A3
Plant Type Perennials
Plant Family Aquilegia
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Late)Summer (Early)
Height 2'
– 3'
(60cm
– 90cm)
Spread 1'
– 2'
(30cm
– 60cm)
Spacing 18″
– 20″
(45cm
– 50cm)
Water Needs Average
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained
Characteristics Cut Flowers, Plant of Merit, Showy
Tolerance Deer, Rabbit
Attracts Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Garden Uses Beds and Borders
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow