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perennial

McKana Red and Yellow Columbine

Aquilegia 'McKana Red and Yellow'

 

 
McKana Red and Yellow Columbine (Aquilegia 'McKana Red and Yellow') at Tagawa Greenhouse

McKana Red and Yellow Columbine flowers

McKana Red and Yellow Columbine flowers

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Height:  3 feet

Spread:  18 inches

Sunlight:  full sun  partial shade  full shade 

Hardiness Zone:  2a

Other Names:  Granny's Bonnet, Crowfoot

Group/Class:  McKana Hybrids

Description:

With striking bonnet-like, bi-colored flowers of deep red and bright yellow this giant columbine is stately in the garden; great for naturalizing areas and attracting wildlife

Ornamental Features

McKana Red and Yellow Columbine features showy nodding red bell-shaped flowers with yellow overtones and rose spurs at the ends of the stems from late spring to early summer, which emerge from distinctive deep purple flower buds. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its ferny compound leaves remain bluish-green in color throughout the season.

Landscape Attributes

McKana Red and Yellow Columbine is an herbaceous perennial with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other garden plants with less refined foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and should be cut back in late fall in preparation for winter. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

  • Insects

McKana Red and Yellow Columbine is recommended for the following landscape applications;

  • Mass Planting
  • Rock/Alpine Gardens
  • Border Edging
  • General Garden Use
  • Groundcover
  • Naturalizing And Woodland Gardens
  • Container Planting

Planting & Growing

McKana Red and Yellow Columbine will grow to be about 30 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 18 inches. Its foliage tends to remain dense right to the ground, not requiring facer plants in front. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 5 years. As an herbaceous perennial, this plant will usually die back to the crown each winter, and will regrow from the base each spring. Be careful not to disturb the crown in late winter when it may not be readily seen!

This plant performs well in both full sun and full shade. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.

McKana Red and Yellow Columbine is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. With its upright habit of growth, it is best suited for use as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.

 
 
Hardiness Zone Plant Height Minimum Sunlight
Characteristics
Massing  Rock  Edging  Garden  Groundcover  Naturalizing  Container 
Applications
Flowers  Texture 
Ornamental Features