Product Description
Aquilegia 'McKana Hybrids'Common Name: Columbine;
Zones 3 to 9.
Full sun to part shade.
Plants reach 24 to 30 inches tall and 18 to 24 inches wide;
moderate growth rate; Herbaceous perennial.
A wide range of large, showy flowers in pastel colors, many of them bi-colors, with long, widely flared spurs.
Columbine is easy to grow in a wide range of soils except for heavy, poorly drained soggy soil; but prefers loose, average to rich, moist, well-drained soil. They can be grown in full sun or partial shade, though light to moderate shade will prolong flower season. Remove flowering stems after bloom to encourage additional bloom.
In the fall, or if foliage declines, plants can be cut back to their basal foliage. In the spring, remove only the dead leaves. Leaf miners are the only significant pest, if seen, simply cut the foliage all the way back to the ground and discard it. Healthy, new growth will emerge quickly. Some columbines may self-seed or cross-pollinate in the garden under optimum conditions. Do not propagate by division; mature plants do not like to be disturbed.
Attributes: border plants, containers, cut flowers may last up to 2 weeks, edging and plant in mass to naturalize shady, woodland borders. Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds, Rabbit resistant.
Other Details
The most important part of the plant is its root system. Healthy roots are the foundation of a healthy, vibrant plant. The type of plug container used is based on the specific needs of the plants. Perennials offered as bare root traditionally perform better when planted as bare root.Planted in a specialized mix, potted plants have well established root systems. Top growth stage will vary depending on the current life cycle and time of year when shipped. In Winter and early Spring dormant plants may be shipped. Dormant plants may be planted right away, even before the last frost date.
Most bare root varieties are field grown for at least one season, though Hemerocallis and Hosta are grown for two seasons. The bulk of the soil is removed during the harvesting process and the tops of most varieties are trimmed back to the crown. They are graded, packed in shredded aspen or sphagnum moss and stored in freezers until ready to be shipped.
See our Container Sizes and Bare Root Perennials pages for more information.
Plant information and care is provided in the Overview section, Plant Genus Page and general information is provided in the Planting Care & Guides. Additional questions can be asked on each Plant page.
Plant Spacing: Using the maximum mature spread or width of a plant to guide spacing, ensures space to grow to full size. To fill an area sooner, plant them closer together. Just remember, future thinning or transplanting may be needed.
Water: Keep a close eye on newly planted perennials, especially throughout the first growing year. Most early plant loss is due to too much or too little water!
