During the hot summer months here in the Intermountain West there are few plants that can take the hours of high heat and dry air and still look absolutely cool! In my garden I find one of the best summer coolers to be coneflowers (Echinacea). Whether old or new they pump out beautiful daisy-form flowers for weeks and their flower power is not fleeting.
They even classify as ‘totally cool’ because they have been re-invented just as successfully as Madonna ever was… ehhhhmmm…to the gardening world that is.
During the last decade American plant breeders broke the white and pinkish/purple box that held only Echinacea purpurea to the gardening world. They have worked creatively with all nine species of the Echinacea genus to formulate coneflower cultivars that come in exhilarating colors with interesting petal arrangements, varied centers and growth habits and even fragrance.
Don’t get me wrong I don’t believe in completely getting rid of the old for the new. I still very much enjoy my Echinacea purpurea ‘White Swan’ …as do others…
But in my garden (and my world) there is always room for some re-invention and change so I’ve added some newer coneflower varieties in beautiful shades of orange, golden-yellow, rose and melon. I’m very happy with the performance of these varieties and would recommend them to anyone that is looking for a plant that takes the heat yet adds some cool to the mid-summer garden.
Are you hip on coneflowers? If so, do you grow vintage or trendy? Maybe both? Do you have a Fave?
Coneflower Vitals:
-Cold hardy, easy to grow, best in well-drained, average soil
-Most varieties hardy in zones 3 – 8
-Full sun
-Tolerates heat and humidity
-Water needs are average, somewhat drought tolerant once established. In the Intermountian West water weekly for optimal health and continued bloom production
-Upright growth habit
-Height depends on variety but most varieties reach about 3-4 feet
-Attracts Birds and Butterflies
-Cut back dormant seed heads in late fall to prevent self-sowing or leave to serve as winter forage for birds
igardendaily 
I do love coneflowers, all of them. I planted ‘Sunset’ but never saw it again.
BTW, your pics are beautiful!
Thanks so much! Wow, that is too bad about Sunset…if you really like them maybe try another variety? There are so many fun ones now but I don’t have enough space to try them all!!
Hi. I wandered into here from Rob’s blog and have had a lovely time reading all your posts. I love coneflowers – having planted them for the first time this year! I also grow fruit and vegetables…my raspberries didn’t do very well this year because of strong winds and very cold temperatures earlier in the year. They normally do very well – hope you enjoy yours! 🙂
Stunning photographs! Have just bought coneflower seeds. Waiting for Spring to plant them 🙂
Wow, I love that butterfly shot and the coral coneflowers!!!! You should grow an extra patch of those just to stock your flower arrangements inside!!!! BEAUTIFUL!