You may be surprised to learn that our favorite native plant, coneflower (Echinacea), comes in many colors, shapes, and sizes. Here are seven varieties of this rugged pollinator magnet that we have planted over the years with success.
I have been feeling under the weather lately, and echinacea seems to be the only thing that seems to quiet my cough. This got me thinking about how much I love these coneflowers! I have always appreciated the plant for its durability. It is able to withstand hot, dry summers and is hardy enough to survive the coldest winters.
A native North American plant indigenous to the central plains, Echinacea purpurea is virtually indestructible. We enjoy the color it brings to the summer garden with its large, daisy-like, rosy purple petals surrounding a copper-colored, dome-shaped central seed head. There is also a yellow one called Echinacea paradoxa because of its unusual color.
Depending on your climate, be aware that hybrid coneflowers may not last as long in the garden as the original, E. purpurea, which is proven to stand the test of time!
7 Coneflower Varieties
Plant breeders have been busy! We have more colors, shapes, and sizes to choose from. Here are seven varieties that I have planted in my garden.
- ‘Sunrise’ has pale yellow flowers with central cones that start out green and change to gold. Bright and showy, the flowers are 5” across and very fragrant. The plants are 30-36 inches tall.
- ‘Harvest moon’ is a cross of E. purpurea and paradoxa that has golden-yellow flowers with orange cones. It is a heavy branching plant that bears 4” wide flowers.
- ‘Cheyenne Spirit’ is a mix of colors that can be easily grown from seed. They grow to be 18 to 30 inches tall.
- ‘Green Envy’ has fat jade green petals with magenta veins. The center cones start out green and mature to a purple-brown. It grows to be 30 to 36 inches tall.
- ‘Razzmatazz’ is considered to be the first double-flowering echinacea. Instead of a central cone, each flower has a dome covered with short petals surrounded by a skirt of longer, reflexed petals. It is a bright pink and grows 32 to 26 inches tall.
- ‘Doubledecker’ looks like it is wearing a hat. Imagine a purple coneflower with a second set of smaller petals growing from the top of the cone. Plants grow to about 40 inches tall.
- ‘Kim’s Knee High’ is a compact-growing coneflower bearing rosy-pink flowers on an 18-inch-tall plant.
All these hybrids need the same care as regular coneflowers. They prefer full sun or morning sun and afternoon shade. Nutrient-rich, well-drained soil is optimum, but they will thrive in average soil, too. The flowers are great for cutting, lasting a week or more in a bouquet.
There are many, many more to choose from, so when plant shopping this spring, take a second look at coneflowers and add something new to your summer landscape.
See the Almanac’s Coneflower Growing Guide for more information about when and how to plant these American natives!
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If you are trying to provide quality pollen and nectar for your pollinators then it is best to stick with purpurea. The hybrids often lose those necessary qualities to gain color, multi-petals, and other so called improvements.
Some perennials will bloom the first year when grown from seed but I would not expect the coneflowers to do so. Be patient and give them time to get established. They will probably bloom in their second summer.
Good question Anne! Actually the plain old echinacea purpurea is one of the best as are echinacea angustifolia and pallida. Kim's Knee High, Double Decker, Razzmatazz, & Green Envy are all purpureas. Cheyenne Spirit, Harvest Moon, & Sunrise are hybrids of purpurea crossed with other echinaceas like paradoxa not known for their medicinal qualities. If you are going to be harvesting the roots and I'd stick with a generic echinacea purpurea instead of risking damage to an expensive named variety.
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