(Coneflower)

Almost every species of Echinacea is ornamental and available in the trade for garden use. All are hardy herbaceous perennials and easy to grow. There are nine species, all North American endemics, and in recent years a bevy of wonderful cultivars have been brought to the fore. All are distributed east of the Rocky Mountains, and the endangered species Echinacea tennesseensis only exists in a three county radius in central Tennessee.

Coneflowers are best known for their large,...

(Hybrid Coneflower, Orange Meadowbrite™ Coneflower)

This beautiful clump-forming perennial was the first orange-colored hybrid coneflower and inspired a flood of new colors to the Echinacea palette. The parents of this hybrid, Echinacea purpurea ’Alba’ and Echinacea paradoxa, are North American in origin and naturally inhabit prairies and grasslands. Orange Meadowbright™ was bred by Jim Ault of The Chicago Botanic Garden.

The plants have semi-glossy lance-shaped green leaves that are sparser than those of purple coneflower....

(Big Sky™ Coneflower, Hybrid Coneflower)

Coneflowers in the Big Sky™ series have fantastic, sweetly fragrant flowers that come in an array of colors. This hybrid series was created from crosses of the common purple coneflower ( Echinacea purpurea) and the Ozark coneflower ( Echinacea paradoxa ).

Coneflowers grow best full to partial sun and rich to average soil with good drainage. They are not overly water thirsty, but do check to make sure the soil is never too dry. Deadheading spent flowers keeps plants looking clean...

(Hybrid Coneflower, Mango Meadowbrite Coneflower)

Summer is not complete without coneflowers in bloom! The yellow-blooming Mango Meadowbrite™ ('CBG Cone3') has orange-brown center cones that attract butterflies to the flowers and small songbirds to its seeds. Its flowers smell of a light spicy orange fragrance. A member of the Meadowbrite Series™ of coneflowers created at the Chicago Botanic Gardens, this cultivar was discovered as a branch mutation on an 'Art's Pride' (Orange Meadowbrite™) coneflower.

Coneflowers grow best full to partial sun...

(After Midnight™ Coneflower, Hybrid Coneflower)

After Midnight ™ coneflower ('Emily Saul') is a dwarf member of the Big Sky ™ series. Its fragrant flowers have fuchsia-red petals and a large, black central cone. This hybrid was created from a cross between the eastern purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) and the Ozark coneflower (Echinacea paradoxa ).

Plants grow best full to partial sun and rich to average soil with good drainage. They are not overly water thirsty, but do check to make sure the soil is never too dry. Big...

(Big Sky™ Sundown Coneflower, Hybrid Coneflower)

Big Sky™ Sundown coneflower ('Evan Saul') has an alluring flowerhead with a dark red cone surrounded by orange-red petals. This hybrid was created from a cross between the eastern purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) and the Ozark coneflower (Echinacea paradoxa).

Big Sky coneflowers all attract bees and butterflies and provide seeds for hungry birds in the fall and winter months. Use these perennials in flower borders, en masse in landscape beds, in meadow or in a sunny container....

(Hybrid Coneflower, Summer Sky™ Coneflower)

Summer Sky™ coneflower ('Katie Saul') has an upright habit and heavy branching. Its fragrant flowerheads have dark rosy-pink petals with peach tips and a large, orange or green central cone. This hybrid was created from a cross between the eastern purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) and the Ozark coneflower (Echinacea paradoxa).

Plants grow best full to partial sun and rich to average soil with good drainage. They are not overly water thirsty, but do check to make sure...

(Big Sky™ Harvest Moon Coneflower, Hybrid Coneflower)

The fragrant flowers of Big Sky™ Harvest Moon are completely golden yellow from their conical centers to the tips of their petals. This hybrid was created from a cross between the eastern purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) and the Ozark coneflower (Echinacea paradoxa).

Big Sky™ coneflowers all attract bees and butterflies and provide seeds for hungry birds in the fall and winter months. Use these perennials in flower borders, en masse in landscape beds, in meadow or in a...

(Eastern Purple Coneflower, Fragrant Angel Coneflower)

The aromatic blooms of ‘Fragrant Angel’ have clean white radial petals and a prominent orange cone. This Terra Nova introduction also boasts a strong upright habit and vigorous constitution.

Coneflower is a dependable garden staple that is happiest when planted in sites with full sun and well-drained, moderately fertile garden soil. It self-sows freely and will sometimes flower in the first year from seed. The seedlings can be highly variable, and those of most named cultivars, like 'Fragrant...

(Eastern Purple Coneflower, Purity Coneflower)

The pretty white daisies of 'Purity' are sweetly fragrant and held high above the foliage. This patented Terra Nova introduction has an upright vigorous habit, good branching and its white flowers are punctuated by copper orange conical centers. Coneflower originates from eastern North America where it inhabits open prairies, meadows, roadsides and forest margins.

Coneflower is a dependable garden staple that is happiest when planted in sites with full sun and well-drained, moderately fertile...