McKana Giants Blend Columbine brings a spectacular burst of color and graceful form to garden beds from zones 3 through 9. These hybrid columbines reach 24 to 36 inches tall, producing an enchanting mix of large, double-petaled flowers in jewel tones that seem to float above finely textured foliage. Bred for vigor and size, the McKana Giants strain stands apart for its oversized blooms and reliable performance across diverse climates. Starting seeds indoors 10 to 12 weeks before your last frost gives you sturdy transplants ready to bloom their first year.
3
Partial Sun
—
3-9
36in H x ?in W
—
Moderate
Hover over chart points for details
The McKana Giants Blend delivers flowers that stop you in your tracks, with blooms substantially larger than typical columbines and a dazzling array of color combinations in each packet. Indoor seed starting is highly recommended and surprisingly straightforward, requiring only surface-sown seed and warm temperatures to germinate reliably. These plants thrive in full sun to partial shade and need minimal fussing once established in well-draining soil, making them forgiving performers even for newer gardeners.
McKana Giants Blend Columbine thrives as a cut flower for arrangements, where its tall stems and dramatic blooms command attention in a vase. In the garden, these plants excel in mixed borders, cottage garden plantings, and lightly shaded woodland edges where they provide height and grace among lower-growing perennials. The extended bloom period offers weeks of color, making them valuable for bridging gaps between spring and summer bloomers.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Start seeds indoors 10 to 12 weeks before your average last frost date. Sow seeds on the surface of moist seed-starting mix in a warm location with temperatures between 68 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Seeds germinate reliably in these conditions without requiring darkness or cold stratification. Transplant seedlings once they develop their second set of true leaves.
Transplant seedlings into the garden 10 to 12 weeks before your last frost date, or after hardening off if starting earlier. Space plants 12 to 24 inches apart in their final location. Columbines prefer soil that drains well and benefit from a light mulch to help retain moisture during establishment.
Direct sow seeds outdoors 4 to 6 weeks before your average last frost date, or 6 to 8 weeks before your average first frost date. Surface-sow seeds where soil temperature reaches 68 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Direct seeding is possible but produces less reliable results than indoor starting.
Deadhead spent flowers regularly to extend the bloom season and maintain a tidy appearance. Cut flower stems just below the spent bloom to encourage side shoots and additional flowering. As the season wanes, allow some flowers to remain and set seed if you wish to enjoy volunteer seedlings the following year.
Enter your ZIP code to see a personalized growing calendar for this plant.
“McKana Giants emerged as a deliberate breeding achievement in the columbine world, developed to produce larger, more impressive flowers than heirloom varieties while maintaining the elegant spurred form that makes columbines so distinctive. This cultivar represents a shift toward exhibition-quality flowers accessible to home gardeners, not just specialists. The hybrid vigor bred into McKana Giants gives it robust growth and reliable bloom production, a hallmark of thoughtful plant development that has kept this strain in cultivation for decades.”