Coneflowers Research Report

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Coneflowers

for the Mid-Atlantic Region Jeanne Frett, HorticulturAL Research MANAGER and VicTOR PIatt, Trial Area Gardener

he classic purple coneflower, Echinacea purpurea ‘Magnus’,

with its extra-large, rosy-purple flowers, horizontally-held

petals, and long season of bloom, was named Perennial Plant of the Year in 1998 by the Perennial Plant Association. Until about 5 years ago, most coneflowers found in gardens were selections of Echinacea purpurea and, as its name implies, were found in shades of purple to pink or white.

Recent breakthroughs in plant breeding have introduced a new and exciting palette of colors, sizes, and garden performance to this group of perennial plants. Additionally, this breeding has unleashed an imaginative and highly evocative array of cultivar names such as ‘Fragrant Angel’, ‘Fatal Attraction’, ‘Twilight’, and ‘Coconut Lime’ to tempt the gardening public. Progress is occurring at such a rapid pace that cultivars considered novel or unique in color, size or form several years ago are now being overshadowed or replaced by the newest introductions. There is little doubt that gardeners can anticipate additional surprises and innovation on the horticultural horizon based on this wave of new introductions.

smooth coneflower–Echinacea laevigata pale purple coneflower–Echinacea pallida yellow coneflower–Echinacea paradoxa purple coneflower–Echinacea purpurea wavyleaf coneflower–Echinacea simulata Tennessee coneflower–Echinacea tennesseensis Topeka purple coneflower–Echinacea atrorubens sanguine purple coneflower–Echinacea sanguinea blacksamson coneflower–Echinacea angustifolia inspiration

education

conservation

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The

genus

Echinacea

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is a member of the daisy or sunflower family

completely to the eastern and central

(Asteraceae)

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and native almost

United States with a single species extending its range into

Canada. There are nine species in the genus (McGregor 1968). They are found naturally growing in habitats from prairies to open woodlands and savannas, often on dry, rocky, or sandy soils. A number of the new hybrids are the result of multiple crosses among three species: purple coneflower purpurea), yellow coneflower

(Echinacea

(Echinacea paradoxa), and blacksamson coneflower (Echinacea angustifolia).

he flower heads of coneflowers are

technically composed of two distinct

flower or floret types—disk florets and

ray florets. The prominent cone at the

center is formed by yellowish-brown

to orange disk florets. The surrounding strap-like, showy purple, rosy-purple, white or rarely yellow petals are ray florets that typically spread upward, outward or downward (reflexed). The genus name, Echinacea, comes from the Greek word echinos, meaning hedgehog, referring to the spiny bracts that protrude from the disk florets. Coneflowers cannot self-pollinate and, therefore, rely on insects to transfer pollen between plants to insure successful seed development. Flowering typically occurs from early to late summer.

Coneflowers are herbaceous perennial plants that generally have a basal rosette of foliage and annual stems that arise each season from an underground rhizome or taproot. Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) has a fibrous root system and leaves that are broad, smooth and usually toothed. All other species have taproots, leaves that are narrow, hairy, and usually entire, and stems with bracts (located below the disk florets) displaying various degrees of pubescence.

The new hybrid coneflowers are the result of crosses between the more shade and moisture tolerant Echinacea purpurea and other species of coneflowers that are more shade and moisture intolerant. These new hybrids appear to perform best in our region with full sun and well-drained, moderately fertile soil that is slightly acid to slightly alkaline (pH6 to pH8). Excessive amounts of fertilizer or rich garden soils appear to contribute to profuse growth. For a number of the new cultivars, excellent winter soil drainage is essential or they may become short-lived perennials.

Deadheading, though not necessary, results in some reblooming later in the season and prevents reseeding when not desired. Alternatively, seed heads left on the plants provide food that attracts seed-eating birds including juncos and finches, especially goldfinches.

Although generally pest-free, coneflowers are susceptible to aster yellows, a disease that causes distorted growth and deformed flowers. It is spread by the aster leafhopper and is best managed by promptly removing and discarding the infected plants.

Coneflowers have qualities that make them exceptional garden perennials, including large, daisylike flowers, ease of cultivation, long bloom period, drought and heat tolerance, and attractiveness to butterflies and bees. They are valuable additions to the intimate city garden, mixed perennial border, or naturalistic country meadow. Their fragrant flowers are highly valued as a cut flower and in the autumn coneflower seeds become a food source for birds. In addition, several coneflower species are considered to have medicinal value and are components of popular herbal remedies.

Coneflowers perform well in the garden with a wide variety of plants to provide structure, form, and seasonal interest. A few examples of native plants that make excellent garden companions with coneflowers include tickseed (Coreopsis verticillata), early goldenrod (Solidago juncea), sweet goldenrod (Solidago odora), spike gayfeather (Liatris spicata), garden phlox (Phlox paniculata), scarlet beebalm (Monarda didyma), Joepye weed (Eupatorium fistulosum), black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida), butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa), Stoke’s aster (Stokesia laevis), and grasses such as little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and broomsedge (Andropogon virginicus).

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Coneflower Hybridization and Selection The discovery that coneflower species readily hybridize when brought into cultivation has been a boon to plant breeders and resulted in new cultivars with an exciting range of variation. The inclusion of the only yellow flowered species, Echinacea paradoxa, in breeding programs has resulted in hybrids that have dramatically broadened the color range available to gardeners. New cultivars display petals in a tantalizing array of colors including butter yellow, gold, orange, mango, salmon, rose-red, and even lime green.

A number of hybridizers have concentrated their efforts on selections from the white and magentapurple flowered Echinacea purpurea. These selections have resulted in more compact, superior branching plants, plants with creamy-white variegated leaves, and plants with double, pompom-like flowers. Selections have also been made for width, length and degree of overlapping of petals, horizontally held petals, number of petals, stem color ranging from typically green to purplish-black, and cone color from yellowish-orange and green to reddishblack. Breeders responsible for these new plants include Dr. James Ault, Chicago Botanic Garden; Richard Saul, ItSaul Plants; Dan Heims, Terra Nova Nurseries; Tony Brooks, UK; Arie Blom, AB-Cultivars; and Piet Oudolf, the Netherlands.

Description of the Evaluation Project Mt. Cuba Center, located near Wilmington, DE, (USDA Hardiness Zone 7A/6B) conducted a threeyear evaluation project (2007-2009) involving five species and 43 cultivars of coneflowers to determine their desirability for garden use in the mid-Atlantic region based on their ornamental attributes, adaptation to environmental conditions, and resistance to insects and disease. The objective was to observe seed grown Echinacea purpurea cultivars, the new clonally (tissue culture) produced plants commercially available at the time of the evaluation, and the various species for comparison.

The goal was to recommend superior taxa based on the following observations: floral display (flower color, inflorescence size, flower coverage, bloom period); habit (height, width, foliage quality, habit quality—need for staking or pinching); winter hardiness, cultural

Echinacea paradoxa adaptability; and disease and pest resistance. Ratings were based on a 1-5 scale; 1 = very poor, 2 = poor, 3 = fair, 4 = good, and 5 = excellent.

Five plants of each taxon were grown in full sun in an 11,000 sq. ft. trial garden protected from rodents by a 36” wire fence within a 100-acre garden protected by a 10’ deer exclusion fence. The clay-loam soil in the trial garden, the site of a former cut flower garden, had been amended over the years with composted leaves. It had an average pH of 7.3. The planting rows were mounded 2-4” to assure good drainage.

The area was maintained with the home gardener in mind. Minimal maintenance included watering to establish the plants and as needed in times of drought, periodic weeding, and minimal dead-heading and staking. The beds were not fertilized, pesticides were not applied and the plants were given no winter protection.

Beds were mulched with shredded leaves and hardwood bark to conserve moisture and suppress weeds.

Observations, 2007-2009 Forty-eight taxa of coneflowers that included 31 cultivars of purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), 12 hybrid cultivars, and 5 species were observed for ornamental characteristics including floral display and habit, cultural adaptability, winter hardiness and resistance to diseases and pests. The 43 taxa that

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survived the three-year evaluation are listed on Table 1 (p. 12) along with their characteristics and performance ratings. Plants that died during the evaluation (and were not replanted) are listed on Table 2 (p. 12). Due to the continual introduction of new cultivars, plants that were added later and in the garden less than 3 years are listed in Table 3 (p. 12).

Individual flower color and size, length of time in bloom, foliage quality, plant height and width measurements, and habit quality were recorded for each plant. Flower color ranged from the typical reddish-purple and white for the Echinacea purpurea cultivars, through shades of yellow, orange, greenish-white and pinkish-purple for the hybrids. Cone color ranged from yellowish-orange and green to reddish-black. There was variation in the length, width, number and degree of overlapping of the petals and whether or not they were held horizontally or were pendulous. Flower (inflorescence) diameter ranged from 2” to 6”. Flower coverage in most cases was excellent, ranging from 80% to 100%. Flowering typically began in mid to late June and was largely over by mid to late August although a number of cultivars continued to flower sporadically through September and October.

Average plant height ranged from 14” to 45” with a width from 12” to 38”. Plants ranged from tall and open with one flower per stem to short and compact with branching stems and several flowers per stem. Stems were smooth to hairy and green to purplish-black.

Species (other than Echinacea purpurea) used in hybridization typically have narrow lanceolate foliage and cultivars derived from them frequently exhibited degrees of this characteristic rather than the wider lanceolate foliage of purple coneflower. Foliage color varied from rich deep green to yellowish-green. There were several cultivars with variegated foliage either exhibited as a border or as greenish-white flecking.

Two characteristics, habit and resistance to disease, had significant impacts on the ratings. Plants with sturdy, upright stems received higher ratings than those with weak, floppy stems that splayed (spread out irregularly) as they aged or as a result of wet or windy weather. The highest-rated plants were compact or average in height and remained consistently upright during the course of the three-year evaluation.

Having a monoculture of 250+ coneflower plants in one

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location for three years also contributed significantly to the incidence of aster yellows disease in these susceptible plants. Aster yellows is a viral-like disease caused by a phytoplasma spread from plant to plant by leafhoppers. Symptoms include malformed flowers and stunted growth. It is controlled by the prompt removal of the entire infected plant, not solely the infected stems. While it appeared that many of the plants arrived disease-free, it shortly became evident that a few plants were diseased upon arrival. During the second year of the evaluation, several plants became symptomatic and were removed. By the third year the numbers increased and it became evident (and is reflected in the ratings) that some cultivars were more visibly affected than others. It is unlikely that the home gardener will create a comparable monoculture; however, it is important to select and purchase disease-free plants and promptly remove suspect plants as they occur. In general, insects were not problematic. Several cultivars had foliage marred

by Septoria and Alternaria leaf spot.

The following information includes a description of the top-rated coneflowers and the reasons for their ratings. Most of the top-rated performers proved to be cultivars of purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) with the exceptions being one hybrid cultivar and two species. Following this section, the cultivars are categorized by their most distinctive qualities— flower color, height or form—with a description of the highest-rated cultivar in each category.

Aster yellows disease

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Highly Recommended Coneflowers Echinacea ‘CBG Cone 2’–Pixie Meadowbrite™ hybrid

coneflower is a charming, extremely floriferous compact selection that grows approximately 22” tall and 24” wide. The 2½” to 2¾” wide, flat-petaled flowers are a vibrant rosy-pink and contrast nicely with the showy reddishbrown cone. The petals are held mostly horizontally to slightly downward and do not overlap. It has attractive lance-shaped, grayish-green foliage, sturdy stems, and an excellent branching habit. Pixie Meadowbrite™ hybrid coneflower is the first tri-species hybrid coneflower, having E. purpurea (purple coneflower), E. tennesseensis (Tennessee purple-coneflower) and E. angustifolia (blacksamson coneflower) in its lineage. n

Hardy, drought tolerant; long-lived, disease and pest resistant

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Ideal choice at the front of the border or the small urban garden

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Compact, clumping habit; does not need staking

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Striking floral display; pleasant fragrance

Echinacea purpurea ‘Pica Bella’–Pica Bella purple coneflower has an upright, bushy habit growing approximately 24” to 33” tall and equally as wide. The clean, medium green, lanceolate foliage remains full at the base and drapes the stems. Flowers are abundantly produced on dark, multi-branched stems. The vivid pinkish-magenta flowers are 3½” to 4” wide, with petals held horizontally to slightly downward, narrow at the base, broadening slightly in the middle, and then gently pinched at the tip, giving the flowers a star-like appearance. The plump, broadly conical cones are vibrant orange with each bristle tip appearing to have been dipped in red paint.

Sturdy, vase-shaped habit; vigorous and needs no staking

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Prolific bloomer; uniquely shaped and vividly colored flowers

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Disease and pest resistant; drought and heat tolerant

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Echinacea purpurea ‘Elton Knight’

Elton Knight purple coneflower is a handsome upright plant growing approximately 30” tall and 24” wide. The clean, dark green foliage is held horizontally and densely arranged throughout the plant, giving it a busy habit and acting as a pleasing foil to the showy blooms. Flowers are brilliant magenta, 4” wide with attractively broad petals held horizontally to just below, and gently overlapping. The reddish-orange cone provides a striking contrast to the vibrantly colored petals.

Great compact, upright habit; no staking required

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Multi-branched plants; abundant blooms above foliage

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Disease and pest resistant

Ideal for the front or middle of the border

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Echinacea purpurea ‘Fatal Attraction’

Fatal Attraction purple coneflower is statuesque with an upright, columnar habit growing approximately 36” tall and 30” wide. This selection displays 3” to 3½” wide, vivid purplish-pink flowers atop deep burgundy to nearly black stems. The double row of flat pointed petals is held slightly above horizontal and contrasts with the reddishorange cone. The foliage is medium green with basal foliage that is broadly lanceolate, narrowing as it ascends the stem, and held horizontally to slightly downward.

Floriferous, eye-catching flower color;

blooms held well above the foliage

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Potential as a great cut flower because

of its long stems and sweet fragrance

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Sturdy, tight habit; needs no staking

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Pest and disease resistant

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Echinacea purpurea ‘Vintage Wine’

Vintage Wine purple coneflower has a strong, upright, vaseshaped habit approximately 33” tall and 23” wide. Freely flowering plants produce dark burgundy stems that display 2” to 3½” wide, vibrant deep pinkish-purple blooms. Short, horizontally held petals radiate out from a reddish-orange cone. The handsome dark green foliage is broadly lanceolate, remains full at the crown, and well distributed up the stems to act as a foil to the intensely colored flowers.

Excellent upright habit; needs no staking

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Multi-stemmed plants; abundant bloom

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Pest and disease resistant; drought and heat tolerant

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Ideal for the middle of the border

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Echinacea pallida–Pale purple coneflower has 3” to 4”

wide blooms with 3” long, narrow drooping petals of silvery-pink with a rosy-pink base. The petals resemble streamers, some of them twisted and becoming very animated with the slightest breeze. The large cones are prominently displayed atop rigid, bristly, green stems, and gray-green, hairy linear-lanceolate foliage. Stems are predominantly unbranched though multi-branching occurs ocassionally. Plants will most likely be grown from seed so expect variations in color and plant height. Flower color generally ranges from pale to rosy-pink. Plant height can range from 26” to 40” tall with an upright and very open habit.

Greatly underused coneflower; effective vertical and kinetic accent in a meadow or naturalized planting

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Clean, disease and pest resistant foliage; gray-green foliage color is another ornamental feature to unify design

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Drought and heat tolerant; long-lived

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Echinacea tennesseensis–Tennessee coneflower is a species that is unique because of its cupped petals. The light to dark pinkish-purple, 2” to 3¼” wide flowers have narrow, upturned petals with notched tips. The evenly spaced petals encircle a greenish-maroon cone that matures to velvety brown. These distinctive flowers are held aloft on rigid, gently arching hairy stems that attentively face to the east.

Echinacea tennesseensis grows 22” to 34” tall, and has a clump forming habit of narrow lanceolate, noticeably hairy, gray-green basal foliage.

It is important to note that this is a Federally Endangered Species and should only be purchased from nurseries with a valid US Fish and Wildlife permit to propagate and sell them. Alternatively, purchase Echinacea tennesseensis ‘Rocky Top’.

Pest and disease resistant; tap rooting, making it drought tolerant

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Attractive, compact, clean gray-green, hairy foliage

Unique flower shape; very long bloom period of abundantly produced blooms that face the same direction, appearing as an attentive audience

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Capable of readily reseeding if desired

Recommended Coneflowers—Highest Rated Cultivar in Each Category White flowers Echinacea purpurea ‘Fragrant Angel’—Fragrant Angel purple coneflower is a floriferous and uniform cultivar, outstanding because of its 3” to 4” wide richly fragrant flowers with horizontally held petals and large dome-shaped orange cone.

With an upright habit and average height, it needs no staking and has attractive medium green foliage.

Of the remaining four white selections, three of them— Echinacea purpurea ‘White Swan’, E. purpurea ‘Alaska’, and E. purpurea ‘Primadonna White’—were nearly indistinguishable with similar flower size, drooping rather than horizontally held petals, and medium height. Echinacea purpurea ‘Kim’s Mop Head’ was more compact with smaller flowers and less disease resistance.

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Yellow Flowers Echinacea ‘Sunrise’–Sunrise hybrid coneflower produces 3” to 4” wide flowers that open a rich medium-yellow and then mature to buttery-yellow. The base of the overlapping petals is paler, creating a halo effect which shows off the golden-orange cone. Plants are uniform in habit, erect to open, and have medium green foliage.

By contrast, the cultivars Echinacea ‘Matthew Saul” and Echinacea paradoxa have a tendency to become floppy, rather than remaining upright. Echinacea paradoxa lacked vigor.

Orange Flowers Echinacea ‘Tiki Torch’–Tiki Torch hybrid coneflower displays attentiongetting flowers on rigid, multi-branched stems, making it an ideal cut flower.

The showy 3½” wide golden-pumpkin to reddish-orange flowers with a reddishbrown cone are held well above the clean and beautiful, satiny dark green, lanceolate foliage. Plants are tall and have a relaxed open habit.

Although Echinacea ‘Art’s Pride’ (Orange Meadowbrite™) has the distinction of being the first orange coneflower, Echinacea ‘Tiki Torch’ improves upon this selection with a richer orange color, broader petals held more horizontally, dark green foliage, and increased vigor. The unique and extremely attractive flower colors of Echinacea ‘Evan Saul’ and Echinacea ‘Katie Saul’ made them outstanding selections but they had a tendency to flop and were susceptible to aster yellows disease.

Light Pink Flowers Echinacea purpurea ‘Hope’–Hope purple coneflower exhibits beautiful, soft pink 3½½” wide blooms with broad overlapping petals that gently droop. An immense, reddishorange, dome-shaped cone gives substance to these lovely blooms. This tall and upright selection is floriferous with sturdy multi-branched stems. There is a tendency for it to open up from the weight of the flowers. Of all the selections of Echinacea purpurea in the evaluation, this cultivar has the truest clear light pink blooms.

Dwarf Habit Echinacea ‘Twilight’–Twilight hybrid coneflower is a uniform, compact, and floriferous dwarf selection. The 3” to 3½½” wide flowers have a unique dark red cone and petal color of deep magenta. The petals gently overlap and are held below horizontal. The flowers are abundantly displayed on well branched, bushy plants with medium green foliage.

The cultivars, Echinacea purpurea ‘Lilliput’ and Echinacea purpurea ‘Little Giant’ received lower ratings primarily due to misshapen flowers and foliar disease. Echinacea ‘Kim’s Mophead’ and Echinacea purpurea ‘Conekim’ declined in vigor the third year. Echinacea purpurea ‘Raspberry Tart’ did not overwinter.

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Uniquely Shaped Flowers Echinacea purpurea ‘Coconut Lime’–Coconut Lime coneflower possesses a distinctive flower shape and color. The double flowers are composed of a basal ring of white to yellow-green drooping petals that skirt a large, dominant pompom of pale lime-green florets. This medium-sized plant is vigorous, upright, and broadly vase-shaped. It has narrow, medium green foliage.

Though lovely, the pink double-flowered Echinacea purpurea ‘Razzmatazz’ and Echinacea purpurea ‘Pink Double Delight’ routinely flopped over and the latter succumbed to aster yellows disease. Echinacea purpurea ‘Doubledecker’ produced plants with inconsistent petal numbers and flower shapes.

Variegated Foliage Echinacea purpurea ‘Sparkler’–Sparkler purple coneflower has medium green leaves with creamy white mottling. The 3” to 4” wide medium rosy-purple flowers with horizontally held petals and a large, deep-orange cone are abundant. The variegation is most noticeable as the plants emerge in early spring.

The two variegated selections, Echinacea purpurea ‘Sparkler’ and Echinacea purpurea ‘Prairie Frost’, never effectively performed as variegated plants in the garden because the variegation did not remain strong and was increasingly overshadowed by typical green foliage. Echinacea purpurea ‘Sparkler’ was the better selection because of abundant flowers and disease resistance, while Echinacea purpurea ‘Prairie Frost’ exhibited malformed flowers and disease susceptibility.

Summary In recent years gardeners have been faced with an exciting, abundant, and often confusing array of new coneflower cultivars from which to make selections for their gardens. After assembling, observing, and collecting data on 31 cultivars of purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), 12 hybrid cultivars, and 5 species for a three-year period, recommendations have been made on those that performed best under garden conditions in the mid-Atlantic region.

The top-rated coneflowers from Mt. Cuba Center’s 2007-2009 evaluation project included the cultivars Echinacea ‘CBG Cone 2’ (Pixie Meadowbrite™), Echinacea purpurea ‘Vintage Wine’, Echinacea purpurea ‘Fatal Attraction’, Echinacea purpurea ‘Pica Bella’, Echinacea purpurea ‘Elton Knight’, and two species, Echinacea pallida and Echinacea tennesseensis.

These selections received the top ratings based upon good habit, disease and pest resistance, abundant floral display, and winter hardiness. Recommended cultivars evaluated in specific categories include Echinacea purpurea ‘Fragrant Angel’ (white flowers), Echinacea ‘Sunrise’ (yellow flowers), Echinacea ‘Tiki Torch’ (orange flowers), Echinacea purpurea ‘Hope’ (light pink flowers), Echinacea ‘Twilight’ (dwarf habit), Echinacea purpurea ‘Coconut Lime’ (uniquely shaped flowers), and Echinacea purpurea ‘Sparkler’ (variegated foliage).

Additional progress has been made by breeders during the three years this evaluation was conducted and cultivar numbers continue to increase. New cultivars exhibiting unique flower colors and shapes, strong habit, and compact size promise an exciting future for coneflowers. We anticipate and look forward to an updated evaluation report in the future.

References

Armitage, A.M. 1997. Herbaceous Perennial Plants. Champaign, Illinois: Stipes Publishing.

McGregor, R.L. 1968. “The taxonomy of the genus Echinacea (Compositae).” The University of Kansas Science Bulletin 48:113-142.

McKeown, K.A. 1999. “A review of the taxonomy of the genus Echinacea.” In: Janick, J. (ed.), Perspectives on New Crops and New Uses. Alexandria, VA: ASHS Press.

Rice, Graham. 2007. “A new dawn for Echinacea.” The Plantsman 6(4): 212-219.

Royal Horticultural Society. 2001. Colour Chart, London: RHS.

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Table 1 Plant Characteristics and Performance Summary Ratings echinacea Avg. h x w

RHS Color #

laevigata pallida paradoxa var. paradoxa purpurea ‘Alaska’ purpurea ‘Bravado’ purpurea ‘Bright Star’ purpurea ‘Coconut Lime’ purpurea ‘Conekim’ (Panther Pink™) purpurea ‘Doubledecker’ purpurea ‘Elton Knight’ purpurea ‘Fatal Attraction’ purpurea ‘Fragrant Angel’ purpurea ‘Green Eyes’ purpurea ‘Hope’ purpurea ‘Kim’s Knee High’ purpurea ‘Kim’s Mop Head’ purpurea ‘Lilliput’ purpurea ‘Little Giant’ purpurea ‘Magnus’ purpurea ‘Mars’ purpurea ‘Merlot’ purpurea ‘Pica Bella’ purpurea ‘Pink Double Delight’ purpurea ‘Prairie Frost’ purpurea ‘Primadonna Deep Rose’ purpurea ‘Primadonna White’ purpurea ‘Razzmatazz’ purpurea ‘Ruby Giant’ purpurea ‘Ruby Star’ purpurea ‘Sparkler’ purpurea ‘Vintage Wine’ purpurea ‘White Swan’ simulata tennesseensis teNNeSSeeNSiS ‘Rocky toP’ ‘Art’s Pride’ (Orange Meadowbrite™) ‘CBG Cone 2’ (Pixie Meadowbrite™) ‘Evan Saul’ (Sundown™) ‘Katie Saul’ (Summer Sky™) ‘Matthew Saul’ (Harvest Moon™) ‘Sunrise’ ‘Tiki Torch’ ‘Twilight’

N74D Lt. Red-Purple 75C Lt. Purple 14A Yellow-Orange 157D Lt. Green-White N66D Med. Red-Purple 66D Med. Red-Purple 157D Lt. Green-White 71B/C Med. Red-Purple 66C/D Med. Red-Purple 72D Med. Red-Purple 64A/B Dark Red-Purple 155A White 64A/B Med.-Dk. Red-Purple 75B/C Lt. Purple 64C Med. Red-Purple 155C White 186B/C Med. Greyed-Purple 60D Med. Red-Purple 71C/D Med. Red-Purple 70A/B Med. Red-Purple 71B/C Med. Red-Purple 61A Dk. Red-Purple 70C/D Lt.-Med Red-Purple 64C Med. Red-Purple 67B/C Med. Red-Purple 157A Lt. Green-White 68A/B Med. Red-Purple 70B Med. Red-Purple 186C Med. Greyed-Purple 67B Med. Red-Purple 67A Med. Red-Purple 155C White N66D Lt. Red-Purple 70B Med. Red-Purple 70B, 75A Med.Red-Purple, Lt. Purple 30B/C Orange-Red 68A Med. Red-Purple N25A Med. Orange 170B/C Greyed-Orange 16A/B Yellow-Orange 9B/C Lt.- Med. Yellow N30D Orange-Red 59C/D Med. Red-Purple

32 x 36" 36 x 21" 36 x 30" 31 x 32" 35 x 28" 49 x 28" 29 x 27" 21 x 24" 37 x 38" 30 x 24" 36 x 30" 32 x 18" 28 x 12" 42 x 30" 21 x 12" 17 x 10" 15 x 15" 20 x 14" 35 x 42" 45 x 28" 40 x 32" 40 x 34" 32 x 38" 33 x 35" 37 x 22" 30 x 14" 44 x 18" 44 x 37" 34 x 34" 28 x 24" 33 x 23" 31 x 23" 36 x 33" 26 x 37" 22 x 32" 28 x 34" 22 x 24" 30 x 40" 38 x 32" 23 x 26" 29 x 18" 33 x 26" 14 x 12"

Flower Color

Flower Size Bloom Period 21/2-41/2" Early June-Late Aug.-Sporadic 3-4" Mid June-Late July 2-31/2" Early June-Late July-Sporadic 3-4" Mid June-Late Aug. 3-41/2" Late June-Late Aug. 4-6" Late June-Late Aug. 3-4" Mid June-Early Sept.

21/2-3" Mid June-Late Aug. 4-41/2" Mid June-Late Aug. 4" Early July-Late Aug. 31/2-4" Late July-Late Aug. 3-4" Late June-Late Aug. 4-5" Early July-Late Aug. 31/2" Early July-Late Aug. 3-4" Mid June-Late Aug. 21/2-3" Late June-Late Aug. 2-3" Late June-Late Aug. 31/2-4" Early July-Mid Aug. 3-4" Late June-Mid Aug. 3-4" Early July-Late Aug. 4-43/4" Mid June-Late Aug. 31/2-4" Late June-Late Aug. 21/4-21/2" Late June-Late July 3-41/4" Late June-Mid Aug. 31/2-5" Mid June-Mid Aug. 3-41/4" Late June-Late Aug. 21/2-3" Late June-Late Aug. 3-31/4" Late June-Late Aug. 4-6" Late June-Mid Aug. 3-4" Late June-Early Sept.

2-31/4" Late June-Mid Aug. 3-4" Late June-Early Sept.

2-3" Early June-Early Aug.-Sporadic 2-31/2" Mid June-Late Aug. 2-3" Mid June-Mid Aug. 31/2-4" Early June-Late Aug.-Sporadic 21/2-23/4" Mid June-Late Aug. 31/4" Mid June-Late Aug. 3-5" Late June-Mid Aug. 3-31/2" Late June-Late Aug. 3-4" Late June-Mid Aug. Mid June-mid to Late Sept.-sporadic 31/2" 3-31/2" Late June-Early Aug.

Rating 3.4 4.5 3.4 4 4.3 3.9 3.7 4.4 2.9 4.9 4.6 4.2 3.8 4.1

*

3.6 3.6 3.2 3.7 4.6 4.1 4.9 2.5 2.9 4.1 3.9 3.5 4.6 4.1 3.9 4.8 4 3.5 4.4 3.7 3.3 4.6 3.6 3.6 3.4 3.5 4.2 4

Table 2 Plants that did not complete the three-year evaluation echinacea Avg. H x w

RHS Color #

‘CBG Cone3’ (Mango Meadowbrite™) ‘Emily Saul’ (After Midnight™) ‘Paranoia’ purpurea ‘Pink Double Delight’ purpurea ‘Raspberry Tart’

N25D Yellow-Orange 71A/B Med. Red-Purple NA NA 70C/D Lt.-Med Red-Purple 61A/B Med. Red-Purple

18 x 24" 28 x 14" NA 32 x 38" 24 x 15"

Flower Color

Flower Size reason 31/2" 4" NA 21/4-21/2" 21/2-3"

Died over winter Died over winter weak, died first season Died over winter Died over winter

Table 3 New additions, unrated echinacea Avg. h x w

RHS Color #

angustifolia var. angustifolia atrorubens purpurea purpurea ‘Avalanche’ purpurea ‘Chocolate Strawberries’ purpurea ‘Green Envy’ purpurea ‘Green Jewel’ purpurea ‘Pink Shuttles’ purpurea ‘Prairie Splendor’ purpurea ‘Pure Honey’ purpurea ‘Red Knee High’ purpurea ‘Snowcone’ purpurea ‘Virgin’ sanguinea ‘Mac ‘n’ Cheese’ ‘Tomato Soup’

70D Lt. Red-Purple NA NA N74C Red-Purple 155C & 157B White, Green-WHITE 70C Lt. Red-Purple 64B, 71A & 144C Multicolored 1C & 145C Lt. Yellow-Green 186C Med. Greyed-Purple N74D Lt. Red-Purple 155A White 67A Med. Red-Purple N155D White 155C & 157B White 75C Lt. Purple 21A Yellow-Orange 45A & 34A Orange-Red

25 x 15" NA 36 x 33" 30 x 24" 21 x 36" 45 x 24" 22 x 17" 31 x 21" 23 x 10" 22 x 15" 15 x 15" 14 x 12" 24 x 20" 22 x 12" NA 25 x 20"

Flower Color

Flower Size 2-3" NA 3-4" 2"-3" 4" 31/2-4" 4" 2-3" 31/2-4" 31/2-4" 2-21/2" 33/4" 4" 21/2-3" 3" 4"

P.O. Box 3570 Greenville, Delaware 19807

Overall Ratings: 5=excellent, 4=good, 3=fair, 2=poor, 1=very poor * Plant growth did not fit original description

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the following people for their advice and assistance: James R. Ault, Director of Environmental Horticulture, Chicago Botanic Garden; Richard Hawke, Plant Evaluation Manager, Chicago Botanic Garden; Bob Mulrooney, Extension Plant Pathologist, University of Delaware; Mark Widrlechner, USDA/ARS, North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station, Iowa State University.

For a downloadable version of this document go to www.mtcubacenter.org. Mt. Cuba Center is a non-profit organization committed to promoting an appreciation for plants native to the Appalachian Piedmont, encouraging their use in gardens, and supporting their conservation in nature.