Every gardener today is looking for perennials that are easy to grow, bloom over a long period, and are, at the same time, practically pest free. The McKenna giant hybrid columbines answer this need on all counts.
In 1955, this strain received an All-America Award, the first perennial to be so honored in 18 years.
Large, long-spurred flowers, often 4” inches in diameter, bore profusely on mound-shaped plants, two and ½’ to 3’ feet tall and almost as wide.
The color range includes pink, lavender, pale yellow, deep yellow, maroon, pure white, and many intriguing bicolors. Furthermore, the gray-green lacy foliage is attractive.
My columbine plants, raised from seed, were set out in rows in the cutting garden late in the spring. There they remained throughout the winter with no protection.
The winter of 1956 was severe on many well-established plants in our area because of little snow (except in March) and low temperatures.
Since spring was very late, plants were not moved from the cutting garden into my perennial borders until the second week of play.
Young Columbine In Borders
In the borders, the young columbine plants were planted in groups of three along the middle foreground. By mid-June, they were a mass of bloom.
They are superb for arrangements, too, lasting a full week as cut flowers. These plants bloomed continuously through July and into mid-August and probably would have bloomed even longer had I been more particular about keeping seed pods picked.
However, these pods were cut and dried when green to give interest, and a green accent and diversified form in dried arrangements—plants Aver(‘ cut back in late August.
They were neither sprayed nor dusted from when they were set out to when they were cut back. Everyone who saw them in my garden resolved to grow them too.
It is strange that many good gardeners who grow annuals from seed, as a matter of course, never think of growing their perennials. Not only is it less expensive, but there is great satisfaction in raising your plants.
44659 by Ruth Gannon