More composed than our other Big Sky offering, but just as reliable, this cultivar serves up illuminated butter yellow blooms that soothe the colorful chaos of the summertime border. Subtly toothed, tasteful foliage defines a full, leafy footing for the ample-sized blooms, which emit a roselike scent while their raised greenish centers mature with golden highlights. (pp#16235)

Blooms August–September.

Size: 2-1/2' – 3' 0" high x 18" wide.

Hardy to zone 4.

(Evan Saul)

One of the celebrated stars from Richard Saul’s highly touted Big Sky breeding program in Atlanta, Georgia, ‘Sundown’ colors the landscape with blazing intensity. Vibrant, nearly iridescent pinkish orange petals bend back and overlap one another as they swirl around a pronounced chocolate-brown hub. A cross between purpurea and paradoxa, this Echinacea is not only a flamboyant, sweetly fragrant beauty, but a stocky workhorse delivering vigorous, multibranched stems and broad dark green foliage. (PPAF)

Blooms August?September.

Size: 2-1/2' – 3' 0" high x 18" wide.

Hardy to zone 4.

“Echinacea” is derived from the greek word for hedgehog and this Echinacea’s pronounced rusty orange cones remind us of the little critter’s spiky fur. Lax, loosely arranged and luminous, the perfumed, overlapping golden yellow rays span 4 in. across and are resilient, even during the worst summer heat. Another prized Richard Saul introduction, ‘Harvest Moon’s extra long lasting, autumn-hued flowers are bolstered by abundantly branched staunch stems and a good-looking, compact leafy base. (pp#17652)

Blooms late July – September.

Size: 2' 0" high x 18" wide.

Hardy to zone 4.

Offering a uniquely different floral presentation, this Echinacea’s large blooms consist of ethereally rayed, pale pink to purple petals delicately draped from a coppery-orange center. Narrow, toothless olive-green leaves clothe strong stems beneath the perfect-for-cutting flowers. Echinacea pallida’s staunch adaptable habit can be naturalized en masse, sprinkled in a cottage garden or added to a butterfly planting.

Blooms June–July

Size: 2' 0" – 3' 0" high x 12" – 18" wide.

Hardy to zone 3.

Endemic only to the Ozark region of Arkansas and Missouri, this rare easy-going U.S. native is unique, as the species suggests, for the large ebullient yellow flowers it unfurls rather than the commonly colored purple, pink or white ones. Smooth lance-shaped dark green leaves coupled with hearty light green stalks boost the enchanting perfumed display of slender reflexed petals sashaying around hefty copper-brown central cones. Savored by bees, butterflies and songbirds, especially goldfinch, Yellow Coneflower looks outstanding when massed, lends radiant accents to cut arrangements and produces a robust taproot that tolerates poor soil and drought.

Blooms June–August

Size: 2' 0" – 3' 0" high x 10" – 15" wide.

Hardy to zone 5.

Developed by Niche Garden’s founder, Kim Hawks, this long-blooming pint-sized Echinacea is an entire foot shorter than its native American counterpart. A steadfast foundation of stiff stems clad in dapper coarsely-toothed dark greenery shoulders the prismatic purplish pink daisies, each hosting elegantly pendent petals plus a shimmering copper-orange pincushion center. Unrivaled for the border’s forefront, space-shy gardens or containers, ‘Kim’s Knee High’s reliable mettle never encroaches on her neighbors, delivers flowers all summer long and nourishes goldfinches with tasty seed heads. (pp#12,242)

Blooms July–September

Size: 15" – 2' 0" high x 12" – 2' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 3.

More than 30 years after Jelitto Seeds introduced ‘Magnus’, the same well-regarded company has now released a new version, which they say is vastly superior to the original cultivar. ‘Magnus Superior’ is rapidly gaining recognition with its deeper lavender-hued horizontal rays, larger radiant orange and penny-colored cones, plus firm dark stems and overall heartier constitution. Though ‘Magnus’ has enjoyed award-winning celebrity status for years and is considered by many to be the best cultivated Echinacea in the trade, this new kid on the block deserves a prime spot either in a border, naturalized area or wildflower garden where he can prove his worth.

Blooms July–September

Size: 3' 0" high x 18" wide.

Hardy to zone 4.

If you’re looking for a new Echinacea that possesses plenty of fortitude, you’ll definitely want to consider this floriferous beauty. Dressed in dazzling watermelon-pink shades, uniquely slender petals, featuring upturned margins, are widely spaced and extend horizontally from large nearly iridescent orange-bronze cones that goldfinches love to visit. Noteworthy among Echinaceas for its fine textured floral parade, ‘Pica Bella’ stands steady on compact brawny stalks garbed with tapering, toothed green leaves.

Blooms July–September

Size: 2' 0" – 3' 0" high x 18" – 2' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 4.

This gorgeous pollinator minion and close Echinacea ‘Magnus’ relation grows slightly shorter and bears large darkly hued carmine-red blooms with petals that extend out from the bronze-colored central cones in a distinctive horizontal fashion. Developed by Germany’s Jelitto Seeds and touted as one of the best in the genus, ‘Ruby Star’s sturdy lanceolate dark greenery can be added to meadows, perennial borders and wildflower gardens amid Rudbeckia ‘Viette’s Little Suzy’, Veronicastrum ‘Challenger’ and Molinia ‘Purple Infusion’. It nourishes Goldfinches and heroically tackles clay, poor soil, heat, humidity and dry conditions.

Blooms July–September

Size: 3' 0" – 3-1/2' high x 18" wide.

Hardy to zone 4.

Regal as the name implies, large, pure white flowers crest branching, stalwart stems cloaked in handsome dark green foliage. Broad and slightly reflexed, the bright petals achieve a stunning contrast as they skirt each golden-brown boss. With an upright stance, ‘White Swan’ looks simply elegant in the company of Monarda ‘Grand Marshall’ and a dark red Sanguisorba.

Blooms late July–September

Size: 2-1/2' – 3' 0" high x 18" wide.

Hardy to zone 4.

Colored in rich, deep pink hues, the widely spaced, thin rays of this distinctive long bloomer turn upward and follow the sun throughout the day. While its flowers are a departure from the more typically reflexed Echinacea petals, its narrow, medium green leaf mass is somewhat shorter than other genus members.

Closely related to the endangered species that thrives in the cedar glades of central Tennessee, this exciting selection comes to us from Germany’s Jelitto Seeds. ‘Rocky Top Hybrids’ is well-suited for the border or a more untamed setting amidst a stand of Deschampsia and Panicum.

Blooms July–September.

Size: 2' 0" high x 18" wide.

Hardy to zone 5.