McKana Purple Columbine

Other Names: Granny's Bonnet, Crowfoot

Group/Class: McKana Hybrids

Description:

With striking bonnet-like flowers in bicolor mixes mostly of violet-purple with various colors, this giant columbine is stately in the garden; great for naturalizing areas and attracting wildlife

Ornamental Features:

McKana Purple Columbine features showy nodding purple bell-shaped flowers with white overtones, yellow eyes and purple spurs at the ends of the stems from late spring to early summer. The flowers are excellent for cutting. It's lobed compound leaves remain bluish-green in colour throughout the season. The fruit is not ornamentally significant.

Landscape Attributes:

McKana Purple 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 perennial, 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 Purple Columbine is recommended for the following landscape applications;

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

Plant Characteristics:

McKana Purple 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.

This perennial 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 plant can be propagated by division.

This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid.