Echinacea AFTER MIDNIGHT™ ('Emily Saul' PP18768) |
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Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.
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| | Series Name: Big Sky™ Series
Common Name: Coneflower |
A very distinctive new dwarf member of the popular BIG SKY™ Series with fragrant, dark magenta purple flowers and a black-red cone. The wide flower petals overlap, giving the blossoms a full, substantial presence. For added drama, they are presented on black stems above the blue-green foliage. The plants are well-branched and compact, making it the perfect choice for containers or the front of the flower border.
This new BIG SKY™ Series of echinaceas comes from Itsaul Plants in Atlanta, GA. The Saul brothers, who own the company, are going CONE CRAZY™!!! In the past few years, they have introduced seven new coneflowers in dazzling shades of yellow, orange, red, magenta, and the world's first bicolor echinacea. These new selections are the result of crosses between E. purpurea and E. paradoxa. They have inherited the dominant characteristics of E. purpurea, having fuller, toothed leaves and wider flower petals. They are well-branched and are vigorous growers.
Breeder: Richard Saul
Introducer: ItSaul Plants
Origin: Native Cultivar
Characteristics:
Height:
12 Inches
Spread:
10-12 Inches
Flower Color:
Purple-red shades
Foliage Color:
Green shades
Sun or Shade?:
Full sun (> 6 hrs. direct sun)
Part shade (4-6 hrs. direct sun)
Wet or dry?:
Low water needs
Average water needs
Want to see wings?:
Attracts butterflies
Attracts songbirds
Need critter resistant plants?:
Deer resistant
How fast should it grow?:
Medium
When should it bloom?:
Midsummer
Late summer
How's your soil?:
Poor Soil
Average Soil
Fertile Soil
Sweet or Sour Soil?:
Acidic Soil (pH < 7.0)
Neutral Soil (pH = 7.0)
Alkaline Soil (pH > 7.0)
What's your garden style?:
Container/Patio
Prairie
Cottage
Eclectic
Echinacea purpurea is a wildflower native to the eastern United States and is well-adapted to survive the hot, windy conditions typical of that region. If properly cared for, they will form attractive colonies and will live for many years.
Coneflowers like it sunny and hot. Though they will tolerate light shade, fewer flowers will be produced and the plants will be weakened. Light, loamy soils are best but coneflowers will grow in any well-drained soil. Once established, they are quite drought tolerant.
The word "echinacea" comes from the Greek word "echinos" meaning "hedgehog", referring to the flower's spiky central cone.