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Description

Aquilegias are always popular, and the 'McKana Hybrids' mix is one of the most exciting collections you can grow. These hardy perennials are bursting with charm, producing an astonishing range of flowers in a mix of colours and contrasts that seem almost tropical in appearance. Each bloom carries delicate, hooked spurs that nod gracefully on upright stems, giving the whole plant a light, airy feel.

Flowering from May into summer, they fill that tricky gap in the season when tulips and daffodils are fading but roses and delphiniums haven't quite hit their full stride. It means your garden never feels bare, with the aquilegias stepping in as the stars of the show just when you need them.

This is a hybrid mix, so no two plants are quite the same. Some will be soft pastels, others bold jewel shades, and many offer contrasting colours on the same bloom, a real mix-and-match delight. This unpredictability adds huge charm, because every year you'll enjoy slightly different combinations that keep borders feeling fresh and alive.

Don't let their dainty looks fool you. These are tough, reliable plants that establish easily from bare roots and come back year after year. Once planted, they're very low maintenance and blend seamlessly into borders alongside lupins, foxgloves, hostas or shrubs. Their flowers are also much loved by bees and pollinators, so you'll be giving wildlife a helping hand at the same time.

Supplied as a set of ten bare root plants, ready to plant.

Top Tips

Ideal for the front of the bed or border, these mixed columbines will thrive in a moist but well drained soil in a partial or dappled shady position.

Care Information

On Arrival:

Open the package straight away and check the bare roots.
Soak the roots in a bucket of cool water for a couple of hours to rehydrate them.
If you can't plant immediately, keep them in a cool, frost-free place wrapped in damp newspaper or covered with moist compost. Don�t let them dry out.

Planting:

Choose a sunny or partially shaded spot with fertile, well-drained soil.
Dig a hole large enough to spread out the roots without bending them.
Position the crown (where roots meet the top growth) at soil level, cover with soil and firm in gently.
Space plants about 30-40cm apart to give them room to grow.
Water thoroughly after planting.

Aftercare:

Keep soil moist while the plants establish in their first year.
Once established, aquilegias are fairly drought tolerant but will still appreciate a weekly soak in dry spells.
A general-use, balanced fertiliser can be applied if the soil condition is poor.
Deadhead spent flowers to encourage more blooms and reduce self-seeding if you prefer to control their spread.
If you'd like them to self-seed naturally for future displays, leave some seed heads to ripen and scatter.
Cut back stems to the base in autumn once flowering has finished.
Mulch around the crown in autumn to conserve moisture and improve soil structure.

Delivery Information

Our experienced team at the nursery will always carefully package and send your plants nursery fresh in the perfect condition to thrive once you receive and plant them. Although most plants are extremely tough and will not be affected by all but the most extreme of weather conditions, we always avoid dispatching the most perishable plants if extreme frosts or heat is forecast. We also avoid dispatching orders over Bank Holiday weekends.

Please allow us 3-5 working days to dispatch your order. If you have ordered a 'pre-order' item, these will be sent out as soon as possible after the quoted dispatch date and we generally ship your entire order with any pre-ordered items. Once your order has been dispatched, we will send you an email with details on how you can track it.

We send most of our orders via a fully tracked courier service with Yodel. We will send you a tracking link as soon as your order has been dispatched. To avoid perishable items being stuck at depots and deteriorating, we will not require a signature on delivery, and we ask out couriers to leave your item in a safe place ad your delivery address.

*Please note, once your item has been delivered, we cannot be held responsible for loss or theft from your delivery address. If you have delivery instruction and require our courier to leave your item in a specific place, please let us know - there is an option to leave a message for the courier at the checkout.

For smaller and single-item orders, we may send these via the post with Royal Mail - Tracking will not be available for orders sent via this method.

**Please note, we cannot guarantee delivery on a certain day or time. Delivery to outlying postcode areas may take 1-2 days longer, dependent on your location.

For all orders, a small delivery fee of £4.99 will be charged or spend over £49.99 for FREE Delivery!

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