Coneflower Big Sky series
Coneflower ‘Big Sky Sundown.’
* Common name: Purple coneflower Big Sky series
* Botanical name: Echinacea hybrids
* What it is: A line of perennial purple coneflowers that aren’t purple… or pink, for that matter. Big Sky coneflowers have the same nickel-sized central cones and drooping flower petals of old-fashioned purple coneflowers but in five new colors: ‘Sunrise’ (lemony yellow); ‘Sunset’ (soft orange); ‘Sundown’ (medium orange); ‘Twilight’ (rosy-red), and ‘Harvest Moon’ (golden-orange). All are heat- and drought-tough and mildly fragrant. Butterflies love them.
* Size: 24 to 30 inches tall and wide.
* Where to use: Any hot and sunny spot, especially sunny borders, sunny banks and cottage gardens.
* Care: Best planted in spring. They’ll need little water after establishing and probably no spraying. Fertilize in spring with an organic, granular fertilizer such as Flower-tone or Bulb-tone. Use repellents or cages to protect new growth from bunnies and groundhogs. Dig and divide in March after several years, but don’t be surprised if they eventually peter out after 7-8 years. That’s their nature. Snip off browned-out flower heads throughout summer to encourage repeat blooms and keep the plants looking neat.
* Great partner: Interplant with daylilies or mass them in a bed that has daffodils planted for spring color.
Coneflower ‘Big Sky Harvest Moon’
Coneflower ‘Big Sky Sunrise.’