Aquilegia (McKana Group)
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Tried and True Recommended by 7 Professionals
Common Name: columbine
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Ranunculaceae
Zone: 3 to 9
Height: 2 to 2.5 feet
Spread: 1 to 1.5 feet
Bloom Time: April to May
Bloom Color: Blue, Pink, Purple, Red, White, Lavender, Yellow
Bloom Description: White, red, yellow, blue, pink, purple, maroon, bicolors
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Medium
Flowers: Showy Flowers
Wildlife: Attracts Hummingbirds
Tolerates: Deer, Rabbits
Uses: Cut Flower, Will Naturalize

Culture

Easily grown in average, medium, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Tolerates wide range of soils except heavy, poorly drained ones. Prefers rich, moist soils with light to moderate shade. Remove flowering stems after bloom to encourage additional bloom. Keep soils uniformly moist after bloom to prolong attractive foliage appearance. When foliage depreciates, plants may be cut to the ground. This cultivar may be grown from seed and may self-seed in the garden under optimum growing conditions. However, different varieties of columbine may cross-pollinate in the garden producing seed that is at variance with either or both parents.

Noteworthy Characteristics

The McKana Group is a tall columbine hybrid seed strain which features a wide selection of large, bright-colored, long-spurred, nodding, bi-colored flowers in shades of blue/white, red/yellow and various other color combinations involving pinks and purples. A clump-forming perennial which typically grows to 30" tall. Biternate to triternate, almost fern-like, gray-green foliage is somewhat suggestive of meadow rue (Thalictrum). Blooms in spring. Aquilegia comes from the Latin word for eagle in reference to the flower's five spurs which purportedly resemble an eagle's talon.

Problems

Susceptible to leaf miner. Foliage usually declines by mid-summer at which point it should be cut to the ground.

Garden Uses

Woodland and shade gardens. Also effective in borders, cottage gardens or naturalized areas. Continue to water plants after bloom to enjoy the ground cover effect of the attractive foliage.

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