Echinacea 'DIXIE SUN' coneflower

Dixie Sun coneflower is one of a few coneflowers from DIXIE series bred by Harini Korlipara from TerraNova® Nurseries in Oregon, USA. It produces large, rich golden yellow flowers with a stunning perfume - sweet and floral, but for some reason the fragrance is released only until some 3 p.m. Any idea why? There are numerous buds along one stem which enables the plant to bloom freely from July until early autumn. Freshly emerging flowers are almost flat, daisy-like, and as they mature the rays become drooping yet keeping the richness of the colour, and discs are elevated into dark green cones with orange-yellow tips.

The flowers are attractive for butterflies, bumble bees, and also bees can find a way to suck some nectar from them. Flowering begins at the top of the stems and continues from the axils along the stem. Regular deadheading will promote formation of new buds and flowers. Leaves are mid green, lanceolate and may suffer from diseases if grown in wet or compacted soil. Patent No. PP26160 was issued in 2015.

The plant is usually trouble-free and resistant, just be careful is slugs are present in your garden. Since coneflowers emerge quite late, often when slugs are already in their lethal strength, they could gobble up newly emerging foliage totally and thus destroy the plant before it even comes out.

Coneflower will tolerate almost any soil type but boggy. It loves full sun. It is suitable for mixed borders with perennials, or can be used as a flowering feature among low shrubs and conifers, and looks lovely when planted in a mass in a container on patios and balconies. Fully hardy to min -34°C (USDA zone 4).

Last update 29-12-2016