Echinacea, more commonly known as the 'Coneflower,' are not only beautiful in the garden but are also heat and drought tolerant, making them a great choice for all of us who live in places where climates are both hot and dry during the summertime!

These daisy-like perennials come in a wide range of striking colors, offer a long season of summer blooms, and attract many butterflies and birds! They have truly become a carefree favorite in my garden, and I hope that they soon will be in yours!

1. 'Big Sky Harvest Moon' - Fragrant earthy- gold petals surrounding a golden orange cone. Produces abundant flowers that will reach up to 28 inches!

2. 'Tomato Soup'- Stunning warm, tomato-red flowers can get blooms up to 5" wide, this beauty will put on quite a show getting to about 3' tall and about 3' wide.

3. 'Kim's Mophead'- Abundant white blooms with a greenish-yellow center. This coneflower will only get 12- 18" tall, but will have a spread of up to 2 feet. Making this plant perfect for your borders!

4. 'Pink Double Delight'- Love Love Love this one! This Coneflower has large, fully-double and tufted-pink flowers. Stays short and well balanced, getting up to 18-24" tall. Makes a great cut flower!

5. 'Hot Summer' - First opening up with a soft mango like color, these flowers will eventually fade to a nice orange-red. This particular coneflower is a taller variety, and features strong clumps of blooms that look a lot like fireworks! Height will be 3' by 2' wide.

6. 'Magnus' - Butterfly magnet! Large, deep purple, daisy-like blooms, with a rich black central cone. Fast grower, deer resistant, and will reach up to 3' tall!

Caring For Coneflowers:

Grow in deep, well-drained soil in full sun. Keep in mind, Coneflowers do not require high fertility, but a good starter fertilizer, such as Dr. Earth #2 is highly recommended when first planting. Cut back stems to promote more flowering and reduce excessive self-seeding. Deadheading prolongs flowering.

As the end of the flowering season approaches, don't deadhead flowers; leave them standing in fall and winter as food for birds!

Hello, my name is Tanya and more than just about anything else I love gardening!

I really hope you enjoy reading our newsletters. Please feel free to contact me with any of your gardening questions or comments you may have! Enjoy...and keep digging!

Email Tanya: tanya@sunrivergardens.com