Columbine 'McKana Giant'
Columbine 'McKana Giant'

Multi Buy

Size Guide
3.5
3.5" Perennial
3 or more $6.00 ea
Regularly: $6.99 ea

Columbine 'McKana Giant'

Scott's Nursery Ltd.

$6.99
Title

Make a grand, whimsical statement in your garden with a beloved heirloom classic that reaches for the sky! This majestic perennial sends up extra-tall, slender stems topped with colossal, multi-layered blossoms featuring spectacularly long, sweeping spurs that trail behind them like shooting stars. Hovering gracefully above a robust mound of soft, fern-like blue-green leaves, these large, nodding, and outward-facing flowers showcase an enchanting mix of bright solid colours and high-contrast bicolors that instantly dance into your heart with every passing spring breeze.
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Plant Details

Mature Size:

30" H x 24" W

Zone:

3-9

Watering:

Medium

Type:

Herbaceous Perennial

Growth Rate:

Fast

Light:

Partial Shade/Full Sun

Plant Profile

Common Names:

McKana's Giants Granny's Bonnet, Long-Spurred Columbine, and Hybrid Crowfoot

Scientific Name:

Aquilegia × hybrida 'McKana Giant'

Type:

Thriller / Vertical Accent

Growth Details:

Mature Size: Stands tall and proud at 24–30 inches in height with a well-behaved, clump-forming spread of 18–24 inches.

Growth Habit & Form: Upright, airy, and clumping, featuring a robust basal rosette of delicate leaves with tall, branching flower stalks.

Growth Rate: Fast-growing for a perennial, reliably expanding to its impressive mature height early in the season.

Flowering & Flower Colour: Produces extra-large, 3-to-4-inch wide blossoms with exceptionally long spurs in a festive range of crimson, canary yellow, sky blue, deep purple, rose-pink, and crisp white bicolors.

Flowering Time: Prolific, show-stopping bloom cycle explodes in late spring and runs steadily through early summer.

Environmental Needs:

Exposure: Dappled woodland shade, morning sun with afternoon protection, or cool filtered light is highly preferred.

Soil Preferences: Thrives best in rich, fertile, organic-matter-heavy soils that possess exceptional drainage.

Soil Tolerance: Tolerates sandy, gravelly, or slightly acidic soils with ease, but will rot rapidly in dense, heavy clay that holds stagnant water.

Watering: Regular, consistent watering; irrigate thoroughly once or twice a week, allowing the top inch of soil to dry out slightly between sessions.

Container Role: Acts as an eye-catching, towering spring "Thriller" centrepiece for massive structural patio containers and estate pots.

Special Features:

Award-Winning Heirloom: Winner of the prestigious All-America Selections (AAS) award, celebrated for decades for its unrivaled flower size, exceptionally long spurs, and robust garden performance.

Resistances: Naturally resistant to browsing deer and rabbits due to the texture and compounds in its foliage.

Drought Resilient: Once fully established, its deep root system handles brief dry spells significantly better than compact modern hybrids.
Care Guide

Ornamental & Landscape Value

Seasonal Interest:

  • Bloom Information: Masses of highly showy, colossal spurred flowers completely canopy the foliage for weeks from late spring to summer.
  • Fall Colour: The delicate, fern-like leaves retain their clean blue-green coloration into the autumn months.
  • Winter Interest: Deciduous; foliage dies back completely to the ground after a hard winter freeze, re-emerging early and aggressively the following spring.

Garden Value:

This award-winning heirloom variety delivers massive ornamental value by providing striking vertical structure and dramatic, large-scale color mid-border. It is heavily utilized for naturalizing woodland gardens, traditional cottage beds, shaded perennial borders, and dedicated cutting gardens. Its unique, long-spurred textures offer an exceptional architectural contrast when paired next to bold-foliaged plants like hostas.

Wildlife & Human Value:

Wildlife Value: A premier wildlife magnet! The exceptionally long, nectar-rich spurs of the giant blossoms are custom-tailored to attract hummingbirds, who feast alongside bumblebees, native solitary bees, and early butterflies.

Human Value: Provides a stunning choice for fairytale or children's gardens, yields long-lasting, tall stems for fresh floral design, and instantly brightens up shaded curb appeal early in the year.

Planting & Care Guide

Planting Considerations:

Best Time To Plant: Early spring, as soon as the soil can be worked, or early autumn to let roots establish before winter freezes.

Spacing: Space individual plants 18 to 24 inches apart from center to allow for their wide, mounding base and ensure adequate air circulation around the tall stems.

Location Tips: Select a sheltered site with premium drainage that catches cool morning air; avoid flat, low-lying zones where rainwater pools.

Companion Plants: Pairs magnificently with other shade-loving favourites like large Hostas, structural Woodland Ferns, Astilbe, Bleeding Hearts, and Coral Bells (Heuchera).

Care:

Light Requirements: Thrives beautifully in partial shade to full sun, requiring at least 4 to 6 hours of light daily; afternoon shade is highly recommended in hot summer regions to protect the large leaves from scorching.

Moisture Requirements: Needs moderate, regular watering; the soil should stay evenly moist but never allowed to become waterlogged or bone-dry.

Maintenance & Fertilization: Apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring to fuel its massive growth and blooming cycle. Regularly deadhead or snip off faded flower stems down to the base of the plant to continuously force fresh waves of colorful buds and prevent self-seeding.

Tolerances:

Extreme Cold, Frost, Light Shade, Deer, and Rabbits.

Tips For Success:

  • Leaf Miner Defense: If you notice light-coloured winding trails on the leaves caused by tiny leaf miner insects, simply snip off the affected foliage down to the base; the plant will quickly push out fresh, clean new leaves.
  • Post-Bloom Refresh: When the main spring flowering cycle finishes in mid-summer, trim the tall, old flower stalks right down to the ground to keep the foliage mound looking tight, tidy, and clean.
  • Excellent Cut Flower: The ultra-sturdy, long stems make top-tier cut flowers for fresh indoor vase arrangements, adding dramatic height and a whimsical touch to large bouquets.
Fruit Profile