Botanical Name: Aquilegia hybrids 'McKana Giants'
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Common Name: McKana Giants Columbine  
Plant photo of: Aquilegia hybrids 'McKana Giants'
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Water Saving Tip:

Change spray sprinklers to low-flow bubbler or drip systems. Shrubs and trees are ideal candidates for this type of irrigation because the water is applied directly to the root zones.

  • Anatomy

  • Culture

  • Design

Plant Type

Perennial

 

Height Range

1-3'

 

Flower Color

Gold, Pink, Red, Violet, White, Multi-Colored

 

Flower Season

Spring, Summer

 

Leaf Color

Green

 

Bark Color

n/a

 

Fruit Color

n/a

 

Fruit Season

n/a

Sun

Half, Shade

 

Water

Medium, High

 

Growth Rate

Moderate

 

Soil Type

Sandy, Clay, Loam

 

Soil Condition

Average, Rich, Well-drained, Moist

 

Soil pH

Acid, Neutral

 

Adverse Factors

n/a

Design Styles

English Cottage, Ranch, Woodland

 

Accenting Features

Showy Flowers

 

Seasonal Interest

Spring

 

Location Uses

Entry, Perennial Border, Patio, Raised Planter, With Rocks

 

Special Uses

Container, Cut Flowers, Filler, Mass Planting, Naturalizing, Small Spaces

 

Attracts Wildlife

Hummingbirds

Information by: Stephanie Duer
Photographer: Linda Engstrom

  • Description

  • Notes

McKana Giant is a columbine cultivar named for its late spring, large, showy flowers in a mix of strong colors. Foliage is blue-green and deeply lobed. It is great in a cottage garden, it is an excellent cut flower. Grows about 26 to 30 inches tall and 12 to 18 inches wide.
Grow in well drained, loamy soil in full sun to full shade, though will need more water in full sun situations. Deadheading will usually prolong the bloom season, and as they make lovely cut flowers, snip them off and tuck them in a vase while they are still fresh. Generally, columbine go dormant during the hottest part of the summer; they are also usually a short-lived perennial but are generous reseeders if planted where they are content. Hybrids, however, are not true to seed so future generations of columbine may appear different if you planted hybrid forms. Hardy to USDA Zone 3. During blooming, they appreciate regular watering, but as they go dormant, reduce the frequency of irrigation.