Echinacea atrorubens
dark red coneflower
An upright, perennial coneflower native to South Central USA - narrowly distributed across Eastern Kansas, Texas and Oklahoma - found growing in the dry, alkaline soil conditions of the prairies and outcrops. It grows to 90cm tall and flowers from late spring through summer, typically April to June. Single flowerheads are held atop long, green stems, tinged orange, and produce a prominent central brown cone with a golden-yellow and green centre surrounded by narrow, drooping ray petals that occasionally turn pink and rarely white. Excellent for native bees and attracting other pollinators
Size
Ultimate height
0.5–1 metresTime to ultimate height
2–5 yearsUltimate spread
0.1–0.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Pink Purple White | Green | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Pink Purple White | Green | ||
| Autumn | Green | |||
| Winter |
Position
- Full sun
Aspect
East–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered Hardiness
H5Botanical details
- Family
- Asteraceae
- Native to GB / Ireland
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Clump forming
- Genus
Echinacea are erect, clump-forming rhizomatous perennials with simple or pinnately lobed leaves and solitary, long-stalked daisies with prominent conical central disks and often drooping ray florets; attractive to butterflies
- Name status
Unresolved
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in fertile, humus rich, well drained soil in full sun. Take care when propagating by divison or root cuttings as they resent a lot of disturbance
Propagation
Propagate by seed, division in Spring or Autumn or by root cuttings from late Autumn to early Winter
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Cottage and informal garden
- Patio and container plants
- Prairie planting
- Wildflower meadow
- Wildlife gardens
- Cut flowers
- Flower borders and beds
Pruning
Deadhead to extend flowering
Pests
Generally pest-free
Diseases
Generally disease-free
Get involved
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.