Echinacea purpurea PRAIRIE SPLENDOR�

Echinacea purpurea PRAIRIE SPLENDOR™

Echinacea PRAIRIE SPLENDOR™ Purple Coneflower

Common Name: Purple Coneflower

Unanimously voted in as a 2007 Fleuroselect Gold Medal winner! This is the first Echinacea to bloom 100% the first year from seed! It was introduced by S&G Flowers.

Prairie Splendor™ boasts and earlier bloom time (up to 2 weeks earlier than other varieties) and an extended flowering period from late June to the first frost. The 4-6 inch wide, rose pink flowers are presented atop compact, well-branched plants. This variety is relatively short for an Echinacea, measuring in around 2 feet tall.

Praised for their large, daisy-like flowers which appear from midsummer thru fall, after many other perennials have finished blooming, Coneflowers are a mainstay in today's garden. If deadheaded, the bloom cycle will be extended. However, some spent blooms should be left on the plants in fall because their seeds provide winter food for finches and other birds. The dried seed heads also provide architectural interest in the winter.

Height:

24.0 Inches

Spread:

18.0-24.0 Inches

Hardiness Zones:

3,4,5,6,7,8

Flower Color:

Pink shades

Foliage Color:

Green shades

Sunlight:

Full Sun (> 6 hrs. Direct Sun) Part Shade (4-6 hrs. Direct Sun)

Water Requirements:

Low Water Needs Average Water Needs

Soil Quality:

Poor Soil Quality Average Soil Quality Fertile Soil Quality

Soil Chemistry:

Acidic Soil (pH < 7.0) Neutral Soil (pH = 7.0) Alkaline Soil (pH > 7.0)

Bloomtime:

Early Summer Midsummer Late Summer Early Fall

Attracts Wings:

Attracts Butterflies Attracts Songbirds

Critter Resistant:

Deer Resistant

Seasonal Interest:

Dried Seed Heads

Growth Rate:

Medium

Garden Style:

Patio Container Cottage Eclectic Prairie

Other Features:

Border Plant Container Cut Flower Dried Flower Drought Tolerant Mass Planting Focal Point

Origin:

Native to North America

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.

Awards

Fleuroselect Gold Medal -- 2007

American Garden Award -- 2010

Fun Facts

The word "echinacea" comes from the Greek word "echinos" meaning "hedgehog", referring to the flower's spiky central cone.

Characteristics